Application of sustainability indicators in decision-making processes for urban regeneration projects

Birmingham Eastside, an area of 170 ha, is located to the eastern side of Birmingham's city centre in the UK. Over a 10-year period this once-deprived inner city area is being regenerated through public and private finance estimated at £6 billion. The regeneration scheme is bringing about changes to the local environment, economy and society. The key players (e.g. landowners, developers and planners) involved in the decision-making processes for Eastside have the power to see that these changes are brought about in a more sustainable manner. To achieve this it is necessary to assess in which direction the development should go, and to provide benchmarks for implementing and measuring sustainable changes along the way. The process can be facilitated by the use of sustainability indicators, of which there are many. This paper outlines a variety of sustainability indicators (e.g. Spear, Breeam, sustainability checklists and other benchmarks), including those used within the decision-making processes for East...