Sustainable design

The global environmental crisis we face is also a planning and design crisis. It is a consequence of how things are made, resources are used, land is developed, buildings and infrastructure constructed, services supplied and places connected.

The built environment accounts for around half of all the UK's carbon emissions. When buildings and places are properly designed, they can support low carbon and sustainable lifestyles. Layout and quality affects, for instance, whether we choose to walk, cycle or drive.

The latest data suggests that carbon emissions are still rising. So those who are responsible for planning, designing, constructing and managing urban environments have a crucial role to play.

Good design is both a creative process and an outcome. It is responsive to context, and a clear expression of the requirements of the brief; adaptable to future needs; uses resources efficiently and delivers whole-life value. Good design is fit for purpose, soundly built and attractive. It is about more than iconic, big budget projects in the same way that sustainability is about more than the mechanics of carbon reduction.

Sustainability is a dynamic process that enables all people to realise their potential and improve their quality of life in ways which simultaneously enhance and protect the Earth's life support systems. The pattern of growth in the developed world during the prodigal 20th century has led to what the Stern review called 'the greatest market failure the world has ever seen', climate change. We believe that we should be doing all we possibly can to address the climate crisis.

Good design is synonymous with sustainable design, addressing social equity and inclusion. Well-designed, low-carbon homes in good quality neighbourhoods with local services and public transport add to the quality of life for everyone. But people on low incomes benefit most from walkable neighbourhoods and good home insulation.

The government wants the public sector to lead the way. By commissioning a sustainability audit, working out our ecological and carbon footprint and going public with it, and taking a particular role in promoting sustainability we intend to make fast progress over the next three years to the point where sustainability is completely embedded across all of our work.

Our Sustainable Places website gives expert advice on planning, designing and managing a sustainable place. It cuts through the complexity with clear priorities for action. And it shows which places are getting it right.

Joining things up

CABE provides support and guidance to clients and reviews schemes from masterplans down to neighbourhood parks. Then we stay involved, right through to evaluation of how people use the new buildings and spaces. CABE is working to join up the planning, design and construction disciplines. There is a growing need to consider the 'total carbon footprint' of development. For instance, energy-efficient housing or commercial buildings in isolated locations may perform less well overall than less energy-efficient homes and buildings in more connected locations.

Inspiring, informing and influencing

We have a huge advantage in being able to draw on inspiring design to visualise scenarios for a low-carbon world. We want to show that change is not just possible but that it will lead to better places and better lives. This kind of public inspiration is essential not least because decision makers are looking for a strong public mandate.

Promoting sustainable placemaking

Well-designed places add up to more than the sum of their parts and strategic urban design, masterplanning and place management are the best tools we have to achieve sustainable places at all scales - from the individual home or building to the public realm and the neighbourhood, through to the city, region and country. Sustainable placemaking addresses both adaptation - finding better ways to adapt to the impacts of climate change - and mitigation, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to minimise the most severe impacts.

More needs to be done to reduce the carbon emissions resulting from the design and management of neighbourhoods. This includes investing in high-quality public transport infrastructure. Low-carbon neighbourhoods should also optimise the use of all resources, constantly fine tuning to reduce their impacts and support biodiversity. The location of local services such as schools, shops and GP surgeries should reduce the need to travel or use the car.

Environmental infrastructure including parks and green spaces can reduce pollution, ameliorate the urban heat island effect and absorb rainwater as well as supporting renewable energy and local food production. Good quality public space should provide the framework that underpins the quality of life in cities.

At the scale of the individual home, over the next decade the scale of new house building should stimulate the market for low and zero-carbon homes. But existing homes account for 99 per cent of our existing housing stock and at least 75 per cent of this will still be in use by 2050. It is hugely important that these homes are refurbished to the best standards and CABE will be working with partners on this.