Unpacking agency in urban design to influence sustainability transitions

This thesis aims to support future sustainability transitions by considering the role of urban design and urban development. The built environment is first conceptualised as the product of multiple different urban systems, and as such, any work to introduce new ideas needs to acknowledge this multiplicity. Three case studies are examined of WSUD within Melbourne in the mid 2000s, to assess the role of the designers in helping to get these innovative urban environments constructed. The results show that designers played a critical role in the delivery of WSUD by linking ideas across disciplines and sectors. A preliminary foray into thinking about how these insights can be used to inform urban development to support sustainability transitions concludes the thesis.