Neighbourhood Design

As suggested in our Planning section traditional neighbourhoods were usually designed with plenty of local amenities in close proximity to housing and had good serviceable routes between these. This enabled people to access many of their daily needs on foot (or bicycle). However, the contemporary situation is more complex. People have become used to relying on the private car and accessing shops and facilities at a distance from their home and even if people are prepared to walk many local shops and services have disappeared even in traditional neighbourhoods.

Retrofitting existing neighbourhoods, or designing new ones, therefore, should consider some key design parameters.

Density - some studies have suggested a link between residential density and people’s propensity to walk, or cycle. A key issue is that in order to support local shops and services i.e. have a range of useful facilities to access residential densities have to be around 40-60 units per hectare. Current UK guidance of a minimum of 30 units per hectare approaches these levels, however it also much higher than the very low densities (e.g. less than 5 units per hectare) which have been associated with higher obesity levels [1].

Greenspace - Another aspect which is important is the quality and appeal of landscaping and green spaces; building on research which has shown the positive effects landscape can have on human health and well-being. Studies have shown for example that green, attractive neighbourhoods may well encourage more active travel [2]. Thus a balance between density and greenspace provision needs to be met.

Mixed Uses - Research has further associated mixed land uses with greater active travel [3, 4]. However unfortunately the research has not suggested exactly which uses (e.g. commercial, education, health etc) might generate the most benefit. However, several studies have outlined the benefits of walking to school for children [5].

Public Perception - A key issue that has been shown to influence people’s propensity to undertake active travel is their perception of the neighbourhood environment. As outlined above the quality of greenspace and landscaping is important here, but more generally places that are littered, vandalised and appear uncared for will deter use to the detriment of people’s health [6, 7]. Thus any design intervention should be robust and easily maintained.

The (re)design of the built environment has a potentially important role in encouraging active travel and reducing private car use. However the details of how best to achieve this are as yet unproven and require much further research.

References

  1. Townshend, T.G., What role can urban planning and transportation policy play in the prevention of obesity, in Obesity epidemiology: from aetiology to public health’, D. Crawford, et al., Editors. 2010, Oxford University Press: Oxford
  2. Tilt, J.H., T.M. Unfried, and B. Roca, Using objective and subjective measures of neighborhood greenness and accessible destinations for understanding walking trips and BMI in Seattle, Washington. American Journal of Health Promotion, 2007. 21(4): p. 371 - 379.
  3. Rundle, A., et al., The urban built environment and obesity in New York City: a multilevel analysis. American Journal of Health Promotion, 2007. 21(4 Suppl): p. 326-34.
  4. Rutt, C.D. and K.J. Coleman, Examining the relationships among built environment, physical activity, and body mass index in El Paso, TX. Preventive Medicine, 2005. 40(6): p. 831-41.
  5. Giles-Corti, B. and J. Robertson-Wilson, Walkabilility, Neighbourhood Design, and Obesity, in Obesogenic Environments: Complexities, perceptions and objective measures, A.A. Lake, T.G. Townshend, and A. Alvanides, Editors. 2010, Blackwells: Oxford.
  6. De Bourdeaudhuij, I., Sallis J.F, and B.E. Saelens, Environmental Correlates of Physical Activity in a Sample of Belgian Adults. American Journal of Health Promotion, 2003. 18(1): p. 83-92.
  7. Ellaway, A., S. Macintyre, and X. Bonnefoy, Graffiti, greenery, and obesity in adults: secondary analysis of European cross sectional survey. British Medical Journal, 2005: p. bmj.38575.664549.F7.

Further reading

Carnegie, M.A., Bauman, A., & Marshall. A.L. (2002) Perceptions of the Physical Environment, Stage of Change for Physical Activity and Walking among Australian Adults, Research Quarterly of Exercise and Sport, 73 p 146-155.

Craig, C.L. Browson, R.C., Cragg, S.E. & Dunn, A.L. (2002) Exploring the effect of the Environment on Physical ACtivity: A study Examining Walking to Work, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 23 92) p 36-42

Ellaway, A. Macintyre, S. & Bonnefoy, X (2005) Graffiti, greenery and obesity in adults: secondary analysis of European cross sectional survey, BMJ: bmj.38575.664549.F7

Foster, C., Hillsdon, M. & Thorogood, M. (2004) Environmental Perceptions and Walking in English Adults, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 58: p924-928

Frank, L.D., et al., (2005). Linking objectively measured physical activity with objectively measured urban form: Findings from SMARTRAQ. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 28(2, Supplement 2): p. 117-125.

Frank, L.D., et al., (2006). Many pathways from land use to health: Associations between neighborhood walkability and active transportation, body mass index, and air quality. Journal of the American Planning Association, 72(1): p. 75-87.

Giles-Corti, B & Robertson-Wilson, J. (2010) Walkability, Nieghbourhood design and obesity in Lake, A.A., Townshend, T.G. & Alvanides, S. (Eds) (August, 2010) Obesogenic Environments: Complexities, perceptions and objective measures, Blackwells, Oxford.

Lake, A.A., Townshend, T.G. & Alvanides, S. (Eds) (August, 2010) Obesogenic Environments: Complexities, perceptions and objective measures, Blackwells, Oxford

Moore, R., (1987),Streets as playgrounds, in Public Streets for Public Use, A. Moudin, Editor. Van Nostrand Reinhold: New York.

Rundle, A, diez Roux, A.V., Freeman, L.M.Miller, D, Neckerman, K.M. & Weiss, C.C. (2007) The Urban Built Environment and Obesity in New York: A multilevel analysis, The Science of Health Promotion 21 (4) 326-334

Links

Building Health campaign by National Hearth Forum; Living Streets and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.
http://www.heartforum.org.uk/downloads/BuildingHealth_Main.pdf