Introduction to Sustainable Development

Politicians claim to aspire to it. Development plans claim to deliver it. Developers argue at appeals that they will achieve it. The principle of sustainable development is undoutedly in fashion. But through overexposure and inaccurate use, it is in danger of losing whatever resonance and motivating power it originally possessed (two decades ago). It is easy to become cynical about it, dismissing it as simply a planning craze of the past.

Yet to do so would be a profound mistake. Achieving sustainable development is the most fundamental goal of planning. Sadly, despite all the hype, it is a principle at present more honored in the breach than in observance. The purpose of this article series is to explain what it really means, both at the level of international agreements and at the level of local governments, then to explore its implication in practical land use and decision making.

The conclusion reached is that, far from being a passing fad, sustainable development is an obligatory and inescapable goal of planning policy, and one that could give a coherent rationale for planning decisions.

Articles under this Sustainable Development topic have been lifted from Chapter 7- Planning for Sustainability by Hugh Barton, from the book: Investigating Town Planning- Changing Perspectives and Agendas, edited by Clara Greed.