Sustainable Places

Sustainable Places

Sustainable Places is a dynamic evolving area for SNIFFER. It comprises a range of interrelated and integrated subjects with the aim of creating, maintaining and understanding the concept of “sustainable places”. The area naturally demands multi-disciplinarily approaches to explore and understand what works and why, and will create new opportunities for individuals and groups to share ideas and work together.  

This area is managed by Paul Sizeland.

So what does “sustainable places” mean and how does this relate to SNIFFER’s work?  

Sustainable Places can be briefly summarised as communities in both urban and rural settings that are: 

• Healthy; not just the absence of ill health, but also the promotion and maintenance of people's physical and mental wellbeing with facilities and opportunities.

•  Attractive; places that people can be proud of, where they want to live and develop a sense of ownership, and where provision of good quality housing is affordable.

•  Joined-up; where services, workplaces, schools and shops are easily accessible, with provision of good public transport and pedestrian and cycle routes.

•  Safe; where people feel safe living, working and playing and where a strong sense of community prevails.

•  People-focused; where participation in decision-making is encouraged and where people are part of the planning process.

•  Socially sustainable; where the growth of social capital is encouraged through inclusivity, respect for diversity, and promotion and support of cultural interaction and integration.

• Environmentally sustainable; where technologies that reduce waste, limit carbon emissions and make use of renewable energy are employed, are of good physical environmental quality, and that integrate biodiversity and ecosystem services.

• Economically viable; places that are well designed, connected and conducive to attracting and retaining a skilled and motivated workforce that contributes to sustainable economic growth.

What is SNIFFER currently doing in this context?

Good Places Better Health

SNIFFER has been leading the “Practice, what works?” workstream of the Scottish Government sponsored Good Places Better Health project (GPBH). GPBH defines a new approach to environment and health in Scotland. The project is intended to inform improved provision of health nurturing environments, and takes as its starting point that the physical environment is key to health and wellbeing, set within an over-arching context of “sustainable communities”. For more about SNIFFER’s involvement contact paul@sniffer.org.uk or follow this link; www.sniffer.org

URBAN NEXUS

SNIFFER is leading a workpackage on the EC funded FP7 project. URBAN-NEXUS will build on the knowledge, networks and outputs of the FP6 funded ERA-Net on urban sustainability, URBAN-NET, that was coordinated by SNIFFER. SNIFFER will lead the URBAN-NEXUS workpackage on adapting to climate change. The aim of URBAN-NEXUS is to Promote opportunities for building problem-solving partnerships fundamental to the implementation of sustainable urban planning, development and management; with particular reference to climate change, resource scarcity and reducing the urban ecological footprint. The project starts on the first September 2011, more coming soon.

Other projects and activities include:  

• Secretariat to the Scotland Environment Social Evidence Network (SESEN). This is a forum for exchange and development of socio-economic research that addresses environmental outcomes set up by the Scottish Government.
• Coordination of URBAN-NET, an EC-funded Europe-wide project focusing on Urban sustainability
• Sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) projects (see more under “projects” below)
• Urban biodiversity networks projects - people and biodiversity management, land use and demographic change - production of guidance to inform future urban development
• Greenspace Literature review
• Pollutants in the urban environment study
• Scoping Study for Public Body Biodiversity Guidance
• Research Studentship to Explore the Relationships Between Environmental Quality and Social Disadvantage

For more detailed information about completed, active and proposed projects please see below.

Useful Links

• Scottish Natural Heritage
• Scottish Government
• Northern Ireland Environment Agency