1.3 Health & Wellbeing

Designing for health and wellbeing means delivering a built environment that will bring people closer to nature, incorporating adaptive landscapes, natural elements, and places that reflect seasonal changes. Research showed that we could be happier and healthier if we connected more with nature, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. Good design can encourage activities that carry multiple physical and mental health benefits. For example considering the supply and consumption of food in the local area by giving every resident an opportunity to engage in private and communal planting to grow their own food.

Healthier designs result in environments that are more inclusive and that make navigation easier for everybody but particularly for children, the elderly and those who are most vulnerable. Nottingham City Council supports the adoption of Building with Nature, a new benchmark for the design and maintenance of green infrastructure in housing and commercial development. Building with Nature was designed to support the creation of high quality green infrastructure throughout the planning and development process.

Healthy Towns (NHS) can help achieve an environment that will encourage more outdoor activity like walking, skating and cycling.

Active Design (Sport England) and Building with Nature are benchmarks that can help designers, developers and applicants, achieving healthier places.

Also see Ten tips for healthy, legible places.

Design Criteria

1.3.1 Understand local demographics and how design solutions can encourage healthier lifestyles in the area.

1.3.2 Create environments that bring people closer to their communities.

1.3.3 Create environments that result in more active lifestyles.

1.3.4 Create environments that make the most of existing green and natural spaces, making these accessible and inclusive.