City Know-hows

The value of incorporating inhabitants’ perspectives on health into municipal spatial planning processes

Stronger collaboration with inhabitants could ensure more attention on health in spatial plan development.

Share

Target audience

Urban planning advisers and public health practitioners and researchers

The problem

Despite the available scientific knowledge about the relationship between health and the environment and the suggestions in the discussions of articles that this topic should receive more attention from planners and policymakers in the future, there is limited attention to health and the healthy living environment in spatial plan development. It is relevant to look at the context in which policy ensures a healthy living environment especially the involvement of inhabitants.

What we did and why

We investigated what inhabitants’ views were on health and environment and what they find important in this. We were interested how this knowledge can lead to increased attention to health in spatial planning processes. The insights gained in this way can help us to discover more ways of ensuring that health receives more attention in spatial planning.

Our study’s contribution

We found that:
• Inhabitants have a good idea of ​​what is important in their environment and their health. This is in line with scientific knowledge.
• There are three important preconditions that contribute to a healthy life, including involvement of inhabitants in developments in their own living environment.
• Promoting and increasing the involvement of inhabitants in the planning process will help to create spatial planning developments that promote health more than is currently the case.

Impacts for city policy and practice

The importance of inhabitants involvement in changes and developments in their living environments, simultaneously contributes to their general health and to the creation of a healthy living environment overall.

Further information

Full research article:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related posts

How can indicators support planning for healthier and more resilient cities?

As emerging challenges have made urban areas increasingly vulnerable, jeopardizing the health and well-being of their inhabitants, resilience should be seen as a pathway for healthy cities and integrated into urban planning practices. This study shows if and how existing indicator frameworks can identify urban systemic vulnerabilities and priorities for resilience building to provide local authorities with evidence crucial in planning for healthy and resilient cities.

Read More »