Sustainable London?

"This book is both topical and timely given the extensive debate about sustainability and the challenges caused by financial austerity and welfare reform." Dr Tony Manzi, University of Westminster

"A valuable resource for those interested in the study of sustainable development strategies and policies." Town Planning Review

"Sustainability is a term that has risen in prominence just as global cities like London are becoming ever less sustainable. This important new book calls for a renewed emphasis on social justice in urban policy making. The authors remind us of the things that really matter in life and the political battles that need to be won over wages, housing, transport and the environment." Professor Jane Wills, Queen Mary University of London

"It’s no longer a surprise that the words ‘sustainable development’ at best are marginal adjustments, or more likely, cynical greenwash. Sustainable London explores the results in ruthless detail – seen in the ‘post-political’, socially cleansed ‘mixed communities’, complete with their ‘poor doors’ and ‘anti-homeless spikes’. It is a waymarker which sets the agenda." Joe Ravetz, Co-Director, Centre for Urban Resilience and Energy, University of Manchester

“This is an innovative and accessible book that makes a significant and unique contribution to the discussion around sustainability, providing a high level of commentary and analysis from a range of strong contributors.” Dr John Flint, University of Sheffield

Rob Imrie is Chair in Sociology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and the director of a European Research Council funded project (2013-16) investigating universal design, disability and the designed environment.

Loretta Lees is Chair of Human Geography at the University of Leicester. She is an international expert on gentrification and urban regeneration and is working on an Anti-Gentrification Toolkit for London with Just Space, SNAG and The London Tenants Federation.

Preface;

Foreword ~ Ben Rogers;

Part 1: Sustaining London: the key challenges;

London’s future and sustainable city building ~ Rob Imrie and Loretta Lees;

Privatising London: a conversation with Anna Minton;

Just Space: towards a just, sustainable London ~ Robin Brown, Michael Edwards, Richard Lee;

Part 2: Sustaining London in an era of austerity;

Sustainable governance and planning in London ~ Emma Street;

Privatisation, managerialism and the changing politics of sustainability planning in London ~ Mike Raco;

Sustaining a global city at work: resilient geographies of a migrant division of labour ~ Cathy McIlwaine and Kavita Datta;

Sustaining London’s welfare in an age of austerity ~ Chris Hamnett;

Part 3: The challenges for a socially sustainable London;

The death of sustainable communities in London? ~ Loretta Lees;

From supermarkets to community building: Tesco PLC, sustainable place making and urban regeneration ~ Rob Imrie and Mike Dolton;

Educating London: sustainable social reproduction versus symbolic violence? ~ Tim Butler;

Sustaining the public: the future of public space in London? ~ James Fournière;

Part 4: Sustaining London’s environmental future;

Rhetoric in transitioning to sustainable travel ~ Robin Hickman;

Building the healthy city in London ~ Clare Herrick;

Urban greening and sustaining urban natures in London ~ Franklin Ginn and Robert A Francis;

Part 5: Postscript;

Beyond urban sustainability and urban resilience: towards a socially just future for London ~ Loretta Lees and Rob Imrie.