A vision and methodology for integrated Sustainable Urban Development: BEQUEST

Bentivegna, V; Curwell, S; Deakin, M; Lombardi, P; Mitchell, G; Nijkamp, P

Abstract

The concepts and visions of sustainable development that have emerged in the post-Brundtland era are explored in
terms laying the foundations for a common vision of sustainable urban development (SUD). The described vision and
methodology for SUD resulted from the activities of an international network called BEQUEST, funded by the European
Commission. The project involved building consensus over the language and vision of SUD across a wide range of
stakeholders in the urban environment and across a range of spatial and temporal scales, development activities and
environmental and social issues. The resulting vision of SUD is that of a relative, adaptive process in which the current
urban fabric is gradually adapted over time to suit more sustainable lifestyles. A framework for structuring information on
SUD has been developed which provides a unique, integrated representation of the scope and extent of the subject that
links together socio-economic and technical dimensions as well as planning, property, design and construction interests, in
time and space. Impediments to implementation of the vision and method are explored, including lack of demand, lack of
capacity, absence of agreed targets and indicators together with other policy problems undermining full sustainability
assessment and evaluation of urban re/development proposals.

Citation

Bentivegna, V., Curwell, S., Deakin, M., Lombardi, P., Mitchell, G., & Nijkamp, P. (2002). A vision and methodology for integrated Sustainable Urban Development: BEQUEST. Building Research and Information, 30(2), 83-94. https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210110101185

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2002
• Deposit Date: Sep 20, 2007
• Journal: Building Research and Information
• Print ISSN: 0961-3218
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 83-94
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09613210110101185