Last year, the UK government launched the eco-towns initiative, aimed at creating more sustainable communities. They are supposed to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and architecture. In the advisory report 'What makes an eco-town?', officially intended for agencies involved in the development of eco-towns, BioRegional and CABE explore what problems need to be tackled if we are to live sustainably. The two organisations look into the question how and when a place can be described as sustainable. It moreover looks into the seven categories that are most important for eco-towns to focus on in their strive for the adoption of more sustainable lifestyles.