SmarterGrowth

It makes sense that we all thrive best when urban development creates environments that enable equity and promotes our health, our safety and our wellbeing.  Such environments reduce the strain on our health system by enhancing peoples access to naturally occurring resources that promote health and well-being – reducing social isolation and inactivity – making the healthy choice the easier choice. 

Health NZ has provided guidance for urban development and health professionals to support urban planning designed to enhance the health and well-being for all people.

This guidance includes four key principles identified by the Ministry of Health  to guide design, these include: healthy, safe and resilient communities; healthy environments; equity and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

This paper – Principles for Healthy Urban Development – discusses these principles and includes practical examples of what they might look like in urban design.

This resource – Age-friendly Urban-Places – similarly provides clear visual examples of what urban development could look that that supports our aging population.  It is easy to see how such design can benefit everyone.

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