“Measuring” sustainable living agendas

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce an approach for dynamically assessing the transition from partition to integration within a multi‐disciplinary research/urban regeneration project and its effect on the relative sustainability of interventions proposed.Design/methodology/approach – Stated sustainability aims of the research project are deconstructed in discussion with the multi‐disciplinary teams and stakeholders involved to give transparency to values held. Indicators are defined separately by the teams and then collectively. A framework for assessment is developed from a combination of ideas in research and practice and from a social science perspective. The thesis of the project that there are “significant social, economic and environmental gains to be made by integrated and innovative interventions in urban river corridors” is iteratively tested against the framework in open discussions enabling the framework's continual refinement.Findings – The dynamics of sustainability assessment...