UKERC EDC: Publications

This resource links to a document we hold in our system

Abstract:

The key findings of this report are:

The Millennium Villages initiative (and other developments) could achieve more integrated sustainable settlements if sustainability aims such as those set out in the proposed evaluation framework (minimising resource consumption; maximising environmental capital; urban design quality; quality of life, social inclusion, community participation; commercial viability) were adopted as central objectives.

Performance targets for these sustainability aims should be set for future Millennium Villages and other developments, and their progress relative to explicit benchmarks monitored and reported.

The Millennium Villages initiative and other developments could benefit from experimenting with organisational and delivery models other than commercial competition between developer-led consortia with volume housebuilders as their drivers.

Availability of 'sustainability infrastructure', such as good quality public transport, and a pool of receptive residents should be high priorities in the selection of Millennium Village sites and other sustainable settlements if their success is to maximised.

If the Millennium Village initiative is to seek uncompromisingly high achievement the fact that this will take longer and often also cost more need to be borne in mind.

In future, sustainable community projects should experiment not only in built forms, construction techniques, layout etc. but also in different institutional solutions.

This report is divided into the following sections: