VivaCity2020 Project

This website is a knowledge platform for the VivaCity2020 Project, providing tools and resources for urban design practitioners to assist them with making more sustainable decisions.

VivaCity2020 is a university-led research consortium, comprised of Lancaster University, the University of Salford, University College London, London Metropolitan University, and the University of Sheffield, along with over 100 partner organisations.

In 2003, VivaCity2020 received £2.75M from the EPSRC (the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) to undertake a five-year programme of research into the design and delivery of sustainable urban environments (SUE). The aim was to develop an in-depth understanding of human behaviour in urban environments and to create new practical resources to support urban design professionals with sustainable decision-making.

The tools and resources developed address issues of crime, economic vitality, social exclusion, the environment and the quality of urban life. The project has produced numerous publications, including the VivaCity2020 book and a Toolkit of Sustainability Resources to support those involved in the design, production and management of the urban environment.