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Sustainable communities
Sustainable communities are defined in a number of ways;
- “Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. ….
- They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all.
- They balance and integrate the social, economic and environmental components of their community ….
- Sustainable communities are diverse, reflecting their local circumstances”. (ODPM).
But there is an increasing emphasis on localisation with local food being seen as one of the key components. Local food reduces food miles, should ensure produce is fresh, benefits the local economy and encourages people to shop in their community.
Local and regional specialities and local food for a multi cultural society with diverse culinary traditions, can be found in small local shops produced by local businesses, social enterprises and community groups.
The reports and the Network featured capture the perceived benefits of local shops and produce and provide the basis for discussions on whether we are thinking strategically about the future of communities.
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High Street Britain: 2015
This report provides the analysis of the evidence, both written and oral, submitted to the Inquiry held by the All-Party Parliamentary Small Shops Group, concerning the long term prospects of the United Kingdom’s small retail sector.
Concern for the future of traditional shopping areas arose amidst recognition from many in, and associated with, the retail industry: ‘traditional’ local small shops or independent convenience stores are disappearing rapidly. Once a ‘tipping point’ is reached many small shops could be lost instantly as wholesalers no longer find it profitable to supply them, resulting in the urgent need for a review of the market.
 Click here to download the full report (.pdf 510KB)
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Trading places: the local economic impact of street produce and farmer's markets
New research from new economics foundation for the London Development Agency reveals that London's street and farmers markets are a powerful local economic force driving London's local economies, providing affordable healthy food and play a key part in the fight back against clone town Britain.
The report, finds that the street markets surveyed offer significantly cheaper fresh produce than supermarkets - on average one third the price of that in local supermarkets. The research also found that farmers' markets are broadly price competitive with supermarkets even before the quality of the produce and its provenance is taken into account.
Click here to download the full report (.pdf 592KB)
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A Green Living Initiative
A Green Alliance / Policy Studies Institute report aims to enable and encourage households to adopt more sustainable lifestyles, this report puts forward an integrated package of measures, linking tax incentives to clear information, advice and branding, designed to engage households in taking action on three key environmental issues – energy, water and waste.
The report proposes a single ‘green living initiative’, which combines information and advice with fiscal incentives, and aims to interest, motivate and empower individuals. It builds on the government’s own analysis, outlined in the Sustainable Development Strategy, of linking regulation to fiscal incentives and information provision, in order to catalyse behaviour change.
To obtain a copy of the report and to download a summary, please visit the Green Alliance website:
 www.green-alliance.org.uk/publications/GreenLivingReport
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Citizen Science for Sustainability (SuScit) Network.
Citizen Science for Sustainability (SuScit) is a new project aimed at providing local communities with a greater say in environmental and sustainability research.
SuScit will work closely with science and engineering researchers, local sustainability professionals, and economically and socially excluded citizens. One of the aims of the project is the establishment of the Citizen Science for Sustainability Network, to encourage collaboration between individuals and groups interested in science and technology, community participation, and environmental and sustainability issues.
To find out more about the project, to download the project flyer, or to join the Network, please visit the new SuScit website:
www.suscit.org.uk
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Other Useful Links:
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Further Information
For further information on this and other sustainable development areas contact Rosamund Aubrey on the details below.
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