ABSTRACT
Sustainable development has become a central concept in all discussions of contemporary urban regeneration in the UK. This chapter explores the key economic, social and environmental aspects within sustainable urban development. The chapter first looks at the relationship between cities and sustainability. It then briefly looks at the contested definitions of sustainability and sustainable communities. The chapter then analyses the debates surrounding the extent to which urban and economic development and regeneration can be reconciled with sustainable development. It then examines the nature of sustainable cities and communities before outlining the links between urban regeneration and sustainability. Key contemporary approaches to sustainable urban development and regeneration are then presented, focusing on the compact city debate, and sustainable urban planning and design. This is followed by an examination of urban environmental management systems in the UK, exemplified by brownfield site regeneration. Issues linking urban regeneration and sustainability have been key to an understanding of urban policies and the economic, social and environmental problems faced by cities.
