Meshing Sustainability with Satisfaction: An Investigation of Residents’ Perceptions in Three Different Neighbourhoods in Chengdu, China

Qi Zhang,Esther Hiu-Kwan Yung,Edwin Hon-Wan Chan

doi:10.3390/land10111280

Abstract

Can sustainability and liveability be simultaneously pursued at the neighbourhood level? Adopting neighbourhood satisfaction as a proxy to indicate liveability at the neighbourhood scale, this paper investigated how the residential subjective perception of sustainability factors interacted with neighbourhood satisfaction in the context of three different neighbourhoods in Chengdu, China. This began with a comprehensive literature review to construct the neighbourhood sustainability framework. Then, a total of 510 cross-sectional questionnaire surveys was conducted in Chengdu. Logistic regression was employed to investigate significant associations. The findings revealed that the ‘sense and habit of energy saving’ is the only sustainability factor that is negatively associated with neighbourhood satisfaction in commodity-housing neighbourhood. Compared with intangible factors, tangible or physical sustainability factors are more likely to contribute to improving neighbourhood satisfaction and suppressing moving intention. The study also evidenced the contextual differences of significant associations among danwei, resettlement, and commodity-housing neighbourhoods coexisting in transitional China. This calls for adaptive and contextual rather than standardized, top-down strategies for developing sustainable neighbourhood planning to simultaneously promote sustainability and liveability in Chengdu, China. Finally, a specific contextual framework was provided as policy implications for developing local and adaptive solutions.

Highlights

Rapid urbanization and population growth has, in turn, boosted economic development in terms of infrastructure and housing demand; it has comprehensively challenged sustainable development in the twenty-first century
This paper provided an overview of the importance and complexity of the role of neighbourhood in advancing urban sustainability and liveability in the context of urban
By reviewing neighbourhood development guided by the classic pattern, such as the principles of the neighbourhood unit concept [108] and pattern language [109], this study investigated the possible links between the classic pattern of development and the new paradigm of sustainability

Summary

Introduction

Rapid urbanization and population growth has, in turn, boosted economic development in terms of infrastructure and housing demand; it has comprehensively challenged sustainable development in the twenty-first century. López Moreno et al highlighted that urban development has been facing sustainability challenges in the following four areas: environmental sustainability, competitiveness and productivity, liveability, social inclusion, and equity [2]. Sustainability and liveability are closely correlated at various layers. Sustainability is the interconnectedness of environmental, economic, and social dimensions from local to global scales from an intergenerational perspective [4]. Liveability is significantly derived from the urban environmental quality of a dwelling, neighbourhood, and city. Various sustainability factors, such as access to open space, air quality, and noise, may contribute to the satisfaction level associated with living at different urban scales [5]. To effectively tackle the intrinsic challenges, it is crucial to deepen our understanding of the association between sustainability and liveability

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Results

Conclusion