Planning Models for Healthy Living for All

Dear Colleagues,

Popular contemporary theories and planning models of development such as smart growth, transit-oriented development, new urbanism, and smart cities posit that spatial configurations and reconfigurations of communities through these models provide broad benefits on health and wellbeing to residents. However, few studies offer empirical evidence that these models yield real positive impacts on health and health-related outcomes. This lack of empirical evidence on the efficacy of these models fails to motivate policy makers, who are unable to clearly gauge the costs and benefits of potential actions. Other, more directly health-related theoretical concepts used in planning, such as accessible and inclusive built environments, therapeutic landscapes, and age-friendly communities, prescribe what spaces—from homes to public spaces, including services and amenities and the paths in between—can do to improve physical and mental health, as well as quality of life, in target populations. While these concepts are helpful in suggesting the micro-scale design of specific spaces (senior homes, schools, parks) or directing macro-level principles for social policies, they fall short of guiding how the concepts can be applied and implemented in real settings of locally unique socio-cultural and political contexts. Furthermore, these models are often vague on equity in the distribution of benefits (health-related or otherwise) among the population, not paying sufficient attention to the differential impacts of a generalized planning intervention scheme targeted for ‘average citizens’ on more vulnerable subgroups, such as the disabled, low-income seniors, or ethnic and gender minorities. A more critical look on existing planning theories and practices through the lens of health and wellbeing from equity perspectives is essential to accelerate the creation of a healthy urban environment for all, which will contribute to the sustainability of communities and society as a whole.  

This Special Issue calls for papers that support the advancement of critical discourse around how planning can contribute to the realization of healthy living in the urban environment for all. We are particularly interested in receiving papers that go beyond normative conclusions (e.g., there should be sufficient green spaces, neighbourhoods should be more walkable for seniors, and vulnerable groups should be engaged in the planning process). Contributions may relate to (but are not limited to) the following themes:

• Critiques of contemporary planning theories or models for development from health and health equity perspectives;
• Critiques of the roles of planning professions for fostering healthy living in cities and other built environments;
• Empirical research showing tangible (typically quantitative) benefits to society or the population (such as health outcomes, economic benefits, healthcare cost saving, employment and productivity in population groups who could not obtain them otherwise) through specific planning interventions;
• Empirical (may be historic) research demonstrating a reduction in health inequity through specific planning interventions;
• Research examining contextual (social, cultural, political) barriers to implementing a model of planning aiming to enhance the health and wellbeing of the population (or population subgroups).

Dr. Mikiko Terashima
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• health
• health equity
• healthy living
• healthy cities
• planning models
• theory
• research evidence
• critical discourse
• vulnerable populations