{"id":136402,"date":"2024-01-24T09:13:30","date_gmt":"2024-01-24T09:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=136402"},"modified":"2024-01-24T09:13:30","modified_gmt":"2024-01-24T09:13:30","slug":"planning-for-town-and-city-centre-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/planning-construction-news\/planning-for-town-and-city-centre-living\/136402\/","title":{"rendered":"What to consider when planning for town and city centre living"},"content":{"rendered":"

Emma Callaghan, senior planner with planning and development consultancy Lichfields<\/a>, reflects on the environmental factors people consider when choosing whether to live in town and city centres<\/h2>\n

The reasons why young people like to live in central areas are varied. They range from high levels of public transport accessibility and enjoying the buzz of city centre life through to easy access to employment, shopping, leisure and cultural facilities.<\/p>\n

But those with families and older generations have different priorities \u2013 and are often more sensitive to the environment around them.<\/p>\n

With urban centres experiencing higher levels of noise and air pollution than suburban and more rural locations, it is clearly important for city centre residential accommodation to be designed in a way which designs out, or at least minimises, the impact of noise and air pollution upon daily life.<\/p>\n

This can be achieved through the development of higher levels of greenspace in close proximity to residential areas, which recent research confirms results in lower day-evening-night noise levels.<\/p>\n

In town and city centre planning, wellbeing considerations are more important than ever<\/h3>\n

This is particularly important given that there is now much greater awareness of these issues than has been the case in the past and exposure to noise is now rightly recognised as a risk factor related to both physical and mental health.<\/p>\n

This is, in part at least, due to the lived experience of many people during the Covid-19 pandemic, when lockdown restrictions resulted in huge drops in noise and air pollution.<\/p>\n

Access to greenspace<\/h3>\n

Analysis carried out by the environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy has revealed that 70% of people who live in UK towns and cities do not have access to good quality greenspace, which rises to 75.8% in the most deprived areas.<\/p>\n

Indeed, poor access to greenspace, including amenity\/play space, is a particular issue in UK town and city centres and a clear challenge, though some local authorities are being proactive in addressing this, eg through the creation of new \u201cpocket parks\u201d.<\/p>\n

Indeed, in Stockton, the council is going further and developing a new urban park on the site of a former shopping centre, creating a new green space within the town centre which will also support other initiatives aimed at diversifying the mix of uses, including new residential development, within and around the centre.<\/p>\n

Crime influences public attitudes towards town centre living<\/h3>\n

Crime, or the perceived risk of crime or threat to personal safety security, is another environmental factor influencing public attitudes towards town centre living.<\/p>\n

Many people share concerns that incidences of public disorder and anti-social behaviour are much higher in town centres, contributing to a sense that these are not safe places to live.<\/p>\n

However, our analysis of UK crime statistics as part of an assessment of town and city centres across the North East and Yorkshire region, reveals these concerns are not necessarily reflected in reported crime data.<\/p>\n

More specifically:<\/p>\n