CfSD

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An explicit aim of CfSD is to promote collaborative research and joint working between researchers and academics in research interests as seemingly diverse as transport, governance and democracy, environmental protection, public health, energy and resource use, urban planning and design, rural affairs, social justice, housing, property development and architecture, but with a common theme - sustainable development.

The CfSD network organises regular internal research seminars and meetings.  In this way, CfSD raises the profile of sustainable development as a discipline within the University and with its outside contacts, whilst also providing a platform from which to bid for research, consultancy and training contracts pertaining to the cross-cutting agenda which describes 'sustainable development'.

The Centre for Sustainable Development specialises in the relationship between sustainable development and social exclusion, between poverty and the environment in the UK.

Internal partners

SABE Research Support Network (University of Westminster, School of Architecture and the Built Environment)

CfSD administers the SABE Research Support Network, a network based at the University of Westminster.  The network provides a forum for sharing skills and knowledge across different disciplines, organises monthly workshops in research skills, supports emerging researchers and disseminates information on scholarships, funding applications, calls for papers, grants and seminars. 

Transport Studies Group

The Transport Studies Group comprises a multi-disciplinary team of research and teaching staff with a prominent reputation for carrying out a wide range of academic and applied research covering most of the main transport sectors. In particular its work focuses on policy, planning, behavioural, management and operational issues, examining topics that include road traffic and private car travel, parking, freight and logistics, public land passenger transport, and airlines and airports.

School of Architecture and the Built Environment

The School of Architecture and the Built Environment at the University of Westminster has 1800 students with around 90 permanent teaching and research staff. In addition it has a large number of visiting lecturers from industry and the professions. The School provides a full range of programmes, both undergraduate and postgraduate, and full and part time. In addition the School has an extensive programme of short courses and is heavily committed to professional, consultancy and research activities.

Max Lock Centre

The Max Lock Centre is a multi -disciplinary research and consultancy group. Based on the ideals of Civic Diagnosis, Community Participation and Urban Design the centre continues the tradition of multi-disciplinary grass-roots planning, developed over the last 50 years by the Max Lock Group both in the UK and overseas. The philosophy of the Max Lock Group was to articulate the expressed needs of communities into such focused programmes as would enable them to make affordable investment into environmentally sustainable solutions.

ERIC and eg magazine

The Environment Resource and Information Centre (ERIC) assists the public sector, especially local authorities in the UK, with its sustainable development responsibilities.

ERIC publishes eg: promoting local sustainable development which provides news and analysis to facilitate local sustainable development. eg publishes articles from a range of views including health, environment, social exclusion, regeneration and community participation.

ERIC updates sustainable development news daily (Monday to Friday) - click here for latest information.

The PSI Environment Group is dedicated to the analysis of socio-economic causes of environmental impacts and the policies which may ameliorate them. It seeks to undertake policy-relevant research with a view to contributing to the maintenance and enhancement of the environment's contribution to human welfare, now and in the future.

Central Cities Institute

The Central Cities Institute (CCI) examines the interface between the various activities and interests which make up the centres of major cities. It has the starting premise that, as well as larger corporate and government interests, healthy city centres need thriving residential populations, effective public facilities and dynamic small and medium-sized businesses.

External collaborations

Sustainable Development Research Network (SDRN)

CfSD is a co-ordinating member of SDRN with the Policy Studies Institute and the University of Edinburgh. It is funded by the Sustainable Development Unit in the Government's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Network is concerned with sustainable development research undertaken in the UK and, where relevant, elsewhere. The overall goal is to strengthen the delivery of high-quality cross cutting research relevant to the needs of those in the UK who make and implement policies and decisions in the context of sustainable development.

For more information, including how to join the network click here.

Capacity Global

Capacity works as a catalyst empowering people to find solutions to poverty that enhance social justice and support a healthy environment. Its key aim is to act as a tool for marginalised people around the globe who suffer the indignities of social, environmental, and economic deprivation.

  Andrew Darnton

Andrew Darnton is an independent desk researcher specialising in social and public policy topics around sustainability.  In 2006, he was the member of a CfSD research team which delivered an extensive review for Defra on Promoting Pro-Environmental Behaviour: Existing Evidence to Support Better Policy Making.  Previous studies for Defra include work on Public Understanding of Climate Change, and providing an Inventory of Surveys of Business and the Environment.  Away from Defra, Andrew runs research projects on topics including community engagement, older people, and global poverty.  As an example of Andrew's work, his wide-ranging report on 'Driving Public Behaviours for Sustainable Lifestyles' (Report 2) can be found under '2004' at: http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/publications/index.htm

Jake Elster Jones

Jake Elster Jones is an independent researcher specialising in the links between environmental action and behaviour and local and community action on sustainable development.

University of Strathclyde Law School

CfSD has collaborated with members of the University of Strathclyde Law School on a review of international literature to inform the Scottish Executive's Sustainable Development Strategy.

Institute of Transport Studies

The Institute of Transport Studies is based at the University of Leeds.  CfSD has collaborated with members of ITS on a Rees Jeffries Road Fund project looking into to development of indicators for sustainable development. 

DISTILLATE

DISTILLATE - Design and Implementation Support Tools for Integrated Local Land use, Transport and the Environment - is a research consortia funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and is aimed at overcoming the barriers to the effective development and delivery of sustainable urban transport and land use strategies.  CfSD is currently involved with an ongoing case study with Surrey County Council on indicators for sustainable development indicators and housing and transport choices.