In September 2006, CUDEM, together with partners in ERBEDU (the European Regional Business and Economic Development Unit, based in Leeds Business School) were commissioned by the European Parliament to look at the possibilities of success of the Sustainable Communities Approach and its implementation across the EU 25.

The work follows the Bristol Accord signed during the UK Presidency of the European Union in December 2005, where 25 European Ministers and representatives from European institutions debated and agreed a Europe-wide framework and set of principles and characteristics to help deliver sustainable communities across Europe. According to the Bristol Accord, “Sustainable Communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good service for all”. Despite its diversity it was deemed that Europe faces common challenges in building better places, which it can best address through collaboration and sharing of best practice.

The Accord also highlights the importance of cities and city regions as key regional drivers in creating innovative, competitive and growing national and regional economies. Urban policy is a key component in the new 2007-13 EU Regional Policy and the Structural Fund Programmes, whilst at the same time the Bristol Accord is also an important development in delivering the Lisbon agenda jobs and growth targets and the Gothenburg goals for environmental sustainability.

The purpose of the study is to provide the European Parliament’s Committee on Regional Development with the factors leading to success or failure of the Sustainable Community approach and the wider EU Urban Acquis. The study is composed of three major parts.