Abstract
Team members at the Center for Urban Development Studies (CUDS) at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, Barry Shaw and Clare Wright, developed a case study in 2001 examining the Local Indicators to Monitor Urban Sustainability (LITMUS) program adopted by the London Borough of Southwark. The report sought to document indicators used to monitor sustainability in urban communities and to encourage involvement in developing improvement efforts. Documents include a final report and presentation slides.
Excerpt
Excerpt:
Case Study: The Litmus Programme: “This paper discusses the use of local indicators beginning with the LITMUS programme developed for the London Borough of Southwark (LBS). It draws on the work of The New Economic Foundation (NEF). The authors acknowledge the assistance of Sanjiv Lingayah and Florian Sommer, both of NEF, and Julie Tallantire of LBS in drawing up this Case Study.
Introduction: “A key feature of UK regeneration projects focused on areas of multiple deprivation is the engagement of the local community in identifying the problems and helping manage the solutions with the aim of creating a more sustainable improvement in their living conditions. It is an approach that brings together the concepts of strategic partnerships and Local Agenda 21. Measuring the effectiveness of the approach has been difficult, especially in the most deprived areas with large numbers of residents from ethnic minority groups.”
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| Project Year: | 2001 |
| Project Type: | Research Paper |
| Geographic Regions: | Southwark, London, United Kingdom |
| Reports: | |
| Authors: | Barry Shaw; Clare Wright |
| Sponsors: | Center for Urban Development Studies, Harvard University Graduate School of Design |
| Categories: | Urban Planning |
| ID: | 2001_09_003 |
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