The future of sustainable cities is social
A high-density precinct gets all the praise.
Energy-efficient design? Tick. Rooftop gardens? Beautiful. Recycled materials, solar panels, low-carbon footprint? All there.
But six months in, the cracks start to show. Small businesses are struggling. Residents feel isolated. There’s nowhere to bump into neighbours. Nowhere for kids to run around. And the vibe? It’s… absent.
It’s green. But it’s not liveable.
And while this might be a hypothetical example, we know it’s not really. This is what happens when social sustainability gets left out of the equation.
When the people part is missing
Back when I studied planning (more years ago than I care to count), we were taught that sustainability rests on three equally important pillars—social, environmental, and economic.
Yet somewhere along the way, social sustainability got side-lined. Maybe because it’s less measurable. Maybe because it’s messier. But the reality is, without it, places don’t work—not in the way that matters to people.
And yes, environmental outcomes are critical. This isn’t about downplaying climate action or energy targets. But sustainability can’t be just about buildings. It has to be about people.
What do we mean by social sustainability?
In short, it's about whether people can thrive in a place—not just today, but long-term.
It means:
Housing that’s stable and affordable
Public spaces that invite connection
Local economies with actual job prospects
Design that supports wellbeing, not just efficiency
Social infrastructure that underpins daily life—schools, libraries, gathering places.
These aren’t ‘nice to haves’. They’re the foundations for a community that lasts.
Why it matters now more than ever
Our cities are shifting—fast.
The cost of living is biting. Work is more hybrid, more dispersed. Communities are increasingly fractured. And meanwhile, planning systems often feel stuck in reactive mode, focused on yield, floor space, compliance.
But if we care about resilience—and we should—then social sustainability has to be built in from the start. Not tacked on at the end.
1. Housing affordability is a test we keep failing
Australia’s housing crisis isn’t just an economic problem—it’s a social sustainability failure.
When stable housing is out of reach, everything else wobbles—health, education, connection, security.
I’ve seen this firsthand. I was recently involved in a project that nailed its environmental brief… but forgot affordability. There was no provision for essential workers, no pathway for young professionals. And when we raised it, the team got it. The design changed. The housing mix broadened. That project is now much more likely to last as a community—not just look good in a brochure.
2. The way we work has changed. Cities haven’t caught up.
The shift towards remote work has significantly altered how Australians engage with urban spaces. As of August 2023, 37% of Australians regularly worked from home, a notable increase from pre-pandemic levels. This trend is even more pronounced among managers and professionals, with 60% working remotely (ABS, 2023).
Yet many of our city centres and precincts still assume the old 9-to-5 commute model.
If we want places that work, we need to:
Design for flexibility, not fixed-use zoning
Create local, walkable hubs
Support hybrid workers with places to connect and collaborate
The days of planning around the central business district alone are done..
3. Connection builds resilience and we need more of it.
Research shows that strong social networks make communities more resilient in times of crisis—whether a pandemic, climate event, or economic downturn. Whether it’s a bushfire, pandemic or economic shock, the most resilient communities are the ones that are socially connected.
And yet… I walk through plenty of new developments that lack soul and heart. No third places. No casual gathering spots. No life between the buildings.
If we’re serious about resilience, this has to change.
So how do we build better?
We don’t need to reinvent the wheel. We just need to prioritise differently.
Here’s where I’d start:
Integrate wellbeing metrics into planning. Use tools like the ACT Wellbeing Framework or the Australian Government’s Measuring What Matters as more than just high-level policy gloss. Let them inform actual planning approvals.
Support socially sustainable design. Walkability, public realm investment, inclusive spaces—these can’t be optional extras. They should be locked into every major planning decision.
Make community engagement real. Not just a drop-in session and a summary report. I’m talking about early, meaningful, two-way engagement that shapes outcomes.
Get serious about housing diversity. This includes: Long-term build-to-rent; cooperative and shared equity models; townhouses with shared greenspace; affordable housing for essential workers and properly integrated social housing. Because without a genuine mix, we’re not building community. We’re building silos.
Measure what matters Track social outcomes the way we do environmental performance. If we don’t measure connection, wellbeing, or resilience, we won’t improve them.
A sustainable city is a social city
We already know why social sustainability matters. The real challenge is embedding it.
That means putting people—all people—at the centre of urban planning. Not just in principle, but in policy, in funding, and in design.
Because if we keep building places that tick all the green boxes but leave people isolated, displaced or priced out… we’re not building for the future. We’re building to fail.
Because in the end, it’s not just about buildings—it’s about belonging.
