Opinion – Claudio Bernardes: Master Plan and the well-being of the population

Well-being and quality of life are critical issues for the functioning of cities and, consequently, very important aspects to be considered in the strategic master plans of each municipality. However, the ways in which the urban development plan is associated with the well-being of the population and its relationship with the built environment are not always clear to planners.

In this sense, it can be quite useful to understand the conceptual model proposed by Professor Kostas Mouratidis, from the urban planning department of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, in Norway.

The model considers for the characterization of the built environment, within the scope of this study, four main components: land use, transport system, urban design and housing.

The definition of well-being of the population, considered a subjective concept, would comprise three aspects: satisfaction with life, emotional well-being and eudaimonia (doctrine that preaches happiness as the purpose of human life).

Thus, having established the built environment and the objective to be achieved (population well-being), the author indicates the aspects that must be considered in the planning of cities to provide this connection efficiently: mobility, leisure, work, social relations, residential well-being, emotional responses and health.

This means that, although there are numerous important issues to be considered in the planning of a city, these are essential aspects when one intends to structure mechanisms that allow the well-being of the population to be achieved.

Mobility is one of the most relevant and comprehensive aspects. It allows people to access places, facilities and services and thus participate in activities and meet their daily needs. It also generates emotional responses – for example, long and stressful or pleasant commutes – and therefore influences emotional well-being.

Urban travel allows people to meet other people, travel to their workplaces, visit stores and access health, educational, recreational, sporting and cultural facilities and services. These access options contribute to the satisfaction of needs and allow people to achieve eudaimonia.

Work is one of the most important domains of life, and job satisfaction contributes substantially to well-being. The level of diversity and accessibility, the opportunity for work and education are extremely important in this process.

In this context, studies show that denser and more vibrant cities increase access to goods and services, facilitate daily interaction, attract talent, facilitate entrepreneurship and enable social and economic mobility.

Satisfaction with housing expresses the level of contentment with the housing in which one lives, and provides indications about the influence of housing characteristics on social well-being. In addition, of course, to satisfaction with the housing itself – aspects related to the neighborhood are important. Thus, it is desirable that common urban problems (noise, inequalities, crime, lack of green spaces) are relatively limited, and essential characteristics (density, balanced land use, efficient public transport, walkability), and a compact built environment are the focus of the planning.

Professor Mouratidis’s study concludes that potential strategies to improve social well-being through urban planning could include aspects such as improving conditions for active travel and public transport and restricting car travel when possible; provide easy and equitable access to facilities and services; develop or guide technology and new mobility options to improve inclusion and quality of life for different groups; integrate as much as possible the various forms of urban nature; provide accessible and inclusive public spaces; maintain maintenance and order in urban space, vegetation and transport systems.

In addition, it points out that other important issues such as implementing noise reduction strategies; propose models for the development of aesthetically pleasing buildings and public spaces based on the needs and preferences of residents; reduce socio-spatial inequalities while supporting housing and transportation for vulnerable groups; ensure that urban policies, plans, laws and regulations consider evidence-based knowledge; improve knowledge transfer and interaction between public health planners and coordinators; apply measurement and benchmarking of urban planning results; and employ empowerment strategies and encourage public participation and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in the planning process.

These strategies can and should be important guidelines for municipal planners who are preparing or reviewing their master plans, so that they can, in this way, definitively incorporate into the planning the achievement of the population’s well-being.