Planning for Efficient Environmental Resource Use and Its Social and Economic Effects

Abstract

Background to research The UK government has recognised in its consultation document on sustainable development, Opportunities for Change(1998), that urban areas are both a major source of the waste and pollution of natural resources (i.e. energy, water, air, land) and also the best hope of establishing a more efficient pattern of resource use in the future. This document also emphasises the key role that the planning system has to play in promoting and pursuing the sustainable use of natural resources. However while a number of documents explain why the planning system is of central importance there has not been a great deal of guidance on how UK planning authorities should address environmental issues. Nevertheless two things are clear : · Planning for environmental sustainability requires planning offices to take real and systematic account of environmental objectives (e.g. reduced car use, energy conservation) which they have generally paid lip service to in the past. . A key challenge will be to meet the projected increase in housing demand in a manner which is environmentally sustainable both in terms of its location and design. My research addresses both of these issues by examining how planning processes and urban design principles are being used in practice to deliver development which embodies environmental sustainability principles. Environmental sustainability is an elusive concept but for my purpose I have adopted a definition which puts quality of life aspects to one side in order to focus on issues relating to the efficient use of natural resources and the avoidance of waste and pollution.