PurposeDeveloping countries are currently on the verge of adopting principles used in achieving a sustainable urban future. As the urban population increases due to factors like urban–rural migration, increase in birth rate, migration, industrialisation, commercialisation, amongst others, there is a drastic need to adopt sustainability principles within urban spaces. To understand how sustainability can be achieved, there is a need to recognise how developed countries have designed assessment tools that work within their context which can inform how developing countries can work on their assessment tool. Urban neighbourhood sustainability assessment tools are used to reflect on the overall goal of the project and the most important indicators needed to be implemented within the project. Sustainability indicators are used to measure the levels and progress at which sustainability has been implemented within a project based on the data collected and these results can be used to make informed decisions. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the development of urban sustainability assessment tool.Design/methodology/approachThis research investigates the techniques utilised in developing an urban sustainability assessment tool Sustainable Composite Cities Environmental Evaluation and Design (SUCCEED-ND) tool within the Nigerian context. The data instrument used includes a questionnaire survey that sampled 50 correspondents, and the results were used to develop an urban assessment tool tailored for the Nigerian countries.FindingsThe findings used social, environmental, economic and planning sustainability dimensions in the design of the assessment tool which composes of 21 core sustainability indicators and 105 indicators to develop SUCCEED-ND tool.Originality/valueThis work developed the first urban sustainability assessment tool for the Nigerian urban environment. The result is meant to evaluate and implement sustainability within existing and proposed neighbourhood development.

Infrastructure investment has long been held as an accelerator or a driver of the economy. Internationally, the UK ranks poorly with the performance of infrastructure and ranks in the lower percentile for both infrastructure investment and GDP growth rate amongst comparative nations. Faced with the uncertainty of Brexit and the likely negative economic impact this will bring, infrastructure investment may be used to strengthen the UK economy. This study aims to examine how infrastructure funding impacts economic growth and how best the UK can maximize this potential by building on existing work.The research method is based on interviews carried out with respondents involved in infrastructure operating across various sectors. The findings show that investment in infrastructure is vital in the UK as it stimulates economic growth through employment creation due to factor productivity. However, it is critical for investment to be directed to regional opportunity areas with the potential to unlock economic growth and maximize returns whilst stimulating further growth to benefit other regions. There is also a need for policy consistency and to review UK infrastructure policy to streamline the process and to reduce cost and time overrun, with Brexit likely to impact negatively on infrastructure investment.

Offsite construction technique presents substantially speedier construction processes whilst lowering construction wastes. The level of prefabricated for offsite construction projects depends largely on the amount of complexity and the level of prefabricated components, which can be classified into two levels such as 2D penalized and 3D volumetric construction. However, there is often no specific method adoptable for determining the level of prefabrication construction. This research aims to determine the level of prefabrication requirement for offsite construction and their significance. An online database collected for offsite construction projects was analysed with decision making models. The results revealed that the building volume, i.e., the building footprint and height were the most influential factors. Furthermore, three other factors related to timber material, low-income target user, and residential function of prefabricated projects were also identified as crucial in deciding the prefabrication level. The research concluded with certain guidance recommended for choosing the appropriate prefabrication level for building construction. For example, penalized construction generally had a higher level of implementation than volumetric construction in prefabrication.

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Project alliancing (PA) as an interactive contracting mechanism is arguably an archetype of modern-day contracting. Well-designed PA emphasises the notion of shared goals and objectives, including detailed understanding and recognition of risks and reward while recognising specialist contribution by parties. However, PA has significant influence on organisational culture and cultural theory, hence reflecting the effect of culture on performance. This research study aims to determine the influence of PA on organisational culture and project performance, using the UK rail industry as a case study. A quantitative methodological approach was employed with quantitative data collection through questionnaires from 56 respondents (25 clients’ and 31 contractors’ all working in the rail industry), on a case study of an on-going alliancing project. The questionnaire results were analysed using the mode as the central tendency approach and focusing on the values that occurred most. The results from the research validated findings from the reviews while highlighting other fundamental factors underpinning the success(es) of PA in project management. This study is beneficial in improving the fragmented nature of the construction industry while positioning team building and collaborative working in the core of construction project management.