The potentials of BREEAM communities in addressing the adaptive governance in theory and practice

Abstract

BREEAM Communities (BC) is a neighbourhood sustainability assessment method that has been implemented across the world and has been widely recognised to be a successful tool in supporting the delivery of urban sustainability. The research presented here aimed to contribute to the current literature in sustainability and adaptation through identifying and evaluating the potential that BC has in supporting and promoting climate change adaptation in terms of theoretical and practical governance. Media City, Salford, UK, provided the context for this study having been identified as an exemplar case study and the site of practical implementation of a breadth of community sustainability strategies. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the relationship between established characteristics of adaptive governance (AG) in relation to relevant BC indicators; alongside an evaluation of the perceptions of key actors’ as to the adaptive capacity promoted by the application of this tool in practice. This research was informed by interviews with key actors and wider stakeholders in the design, construction and management of the development as well as focus groups with occupants, workers and students in the case study location. Consequently, the need for enhancement of the tool’s indicators was identified, and suggestions for their improvement were proposed. Accordingly, BC was found to be a significant tool that holds potential to positively influence community response to climate change adaptation needs. In conclusion, in order to enable effective neighbourhood scale adaptation to climate change, the following themes were identified for further enhancement in the tool: adaptive behaviour and learning, communication, community awareness, knowledge and management.