Promoting social sustainability of urban neighbourhoods: The case of Bethnal Green, London

Promoting social sustainability of urban neighbourhoods: The case of Bethnal Green, London

Growing significance of neighbourhoods in different areas of urban planning, along with the increasing attention to the social dimension of sustainable communities and societies, emphasizes the need for conceptualizing socially sustainable neighbourhoods. This article first critically reflects on the concept of socially sustainable neighbourhoods in two areas of definition and operationalization. It then proposes a tripartite framework for measuring social sustainability of urban neighbourhoods which combines three elements of neighbourhood, neighbouring, and neighbours. This framework is tested, examined, and discussed in the case of Bethnal Green, London.