MORE OR LESS MEANINGFUL CONCEPTS IN PLANNING THEORY (AND HOW TO MAKE THEM MORE MEANINGFUL): A PLEA FOR CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS AND PRECISION.

(1) Sustainable development is a very simple idea. It is about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come … To achieve this, sustainable development is concerned with achieving economic growth, in the form of higher living standards, while protecting and where possible enhancing the environment … Building sustainable communities involves considering how to encourage employment, decent housing, good health, and access to services and recreation, in ways which make good use of natural resources, protect the environment, promote social cohesion, and contribute to local, regional and national prosperity. (Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions [DETR], 1998: 11) buildings, roads and railways) but also natural wealth, such as clean and adequate water supplies, good arable land, a wealth of wildlife and ample forests … To achieve sustainable development requires the full integration of environmental considerations into economic policy decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]