Planning and Well-being: APG on Well-being Economics 12 May 2014

1. Planning and Well-being: APG on Well-being Economics 12 May 2014 Saamah Abdallah, Senior Researcher

2. Planning for well-being “a healthy city offers a physical and built environment that supports health, recreation and well-being, safety, social interaction, easy mobility, a sense of pride and cultural identity and that is accessible to the needs of all its citizens.” World Health Organisation

3. How the built environment influences well-being Green space Transport options Well-being Social space

4. Social spaces • Social capital is a key determinant of well-being • Planning can influence this in many ways: • Community spaces and facilities • Design of public spaces and buildings • Street layout & traffic congestion • Distance between work and home • Security measures

5. Green spaces • Access to green space provides opportunities for physical activity • Green spaces play a role in reducing concentrations of key pollutants • Contact with nature is good for well-being (mood, stress, blood pressure, life satisfaction) • Overall, evidence of green space (quantity and quality): • Having significant association with well-being in panel studies • Resulting in reductions in health inequalities within cities • The benefits do not wear off • Tree-lined streets reduce depression

6. Transport options Promoting cycling and walking is good for well-being: • Physical activity, leading to well-being and health outcomes • Reduces commuting stress • Reduces congestion, air and noise pollution • Reduces traffic accidents and fear of accidents Some evidence that public transport is good for social cohesion: • Reduces fear of crime • Provides opportunities for light touch social interaction

7. These factors are mutually reinforcing Green space Physical activity Reduced pollution & congestion Transport options Well-being Social space Social interaction

8. Process matters Community involvement in planning and regeneration creates a lasting sense of ownership and belonging (e.g. Peckham case study)

9. What does this mean for the planning system? • Local authorities have a key role in ‘place-shaping’ – planning strategically for high well-being communities • Local Plans should aim for “a built environment that is sociable and green” (Gus O’Donnell)

10. The National Planning Policy FrameworkCommunities and Local Government • “the planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction” • “Access to high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and recreation can make an important contribution to the health and well-being of communities” • Planners should “actively manage patterns of growth to make the fullest possible use of public transport, walking and cycling”

11. But… • “presumption in favour of sustainable development” • “significant weight should be placed on the need to support economic growth through the planning system” • “investment in business should not be over-burdened by the combined requirements of planning policy expectations”.

12. Questions for discussion • How can the planning system support well-being? • How far is this in tension with the current focus on the need for planning to support growth? • What would need to change for a well-being approach to planning to become a reality?

13. Find out more www.neweconomics.org @nefwellbeing