What makes a place thrive? Some spaces naturally foster connection, movement, and engagement, while others struggle to stay relevant. Social sustainability is about creating places that last—not just physically, but socially. In this post, we explore what makes a space truly sustainable and how we can design places that people want to be in for generations to come.

Social sustainability is often overlooked in urban planning, yet it’s essential for thriving, resilient communities. This article explores why housing affordability, wellbeing metrics, and social value must be embedded into development policies—and outlines key actions to make it happen.

Those who have heard me speak on why I became a planner know that a trip to Nepal when I was 11 years old was pivotal. Growing up, my dad would take us on holidays off the beaten track, spending time with local people—understanding how they lived and enabling us to experience the sights, smells, and landscapes of other cultures.

These trips had a profound impact on me. They shaped the way I saw the world, ignited my love of human geography, and ultimately led me down the path of social sustainability in which I work today.

Education has been a somewhat slow evolver in a world that is rapidly changing. Delivery of education and schools is tied up in government processes and embedded practices.

In this piece I've explored how we as social planners and urban designers can have some influence in this space, but ultimately there is a big and complex web that is education and its future.