The strict imperative of sustainability in the 21st century can be exacerbated by the challenges of development; if the pitfalls of urban planning are introduced then there is a need for a guide such as this which establishes ground rules for the sphere of urban studies. A range of perspectives is brought to bear on the issues from economics, political science, theories of health, the impact of the built environment, the appraisal of environmental assets through to the very conceptual foundations of sustainability.