"Sustainable Communities meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, their children and other users. Contribute to a high quality of life and provide opportunity and choice. They achieve this in ways that make effective use of natural resources, enhance the environment, promote social cohesion and inclusion and strengthen economic prosperity."

Sustainable Communities are needed across the country. They are already being delivered in some places but achieving them everywhere requires a new and bold approach.

The Regional Centres for Excellence are working closely with the Academy for Sustainable Communities to ensure that we have enough people with the skills and knowledge required to transform local communities into attractive, prosperous places that meet the needs of citizens for generations to come.

The Egan Review, Skills for Sustainable Communities, identifies seven key components of a Sustainable Community. The themes equity and generic skills were later added by the Government in response to the Egan review. The following documents, written by people that work in Sustainable Communities, provide a useful interpretation of the themes and how they relate to Sustainable Communities.