Analysis of Health and Sustainable Places in Urban Development

This report critically examines the megatrend of urbanization and the pressing need for sustainable practices within communities. It analyzes the intricate relationship between the built environment and public health, emphasizing the significance of well-designed spaces in fostering active living and overall wellbeing. The report uses Australia as a case study, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in urban development. It discusses the importance of urban planning and innovative building designs to transform cities into sustainable and healthy environments. The report further explores the need for built environments that support human health and sustainable development, including strategies and practices for creating livable societies. Examples from various countries are incorporated to illustrate different approaches to utilizing open spaces and promoting sustainable urban planning. The report concludes by emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts and the need for a holistic approach to urban development to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for all.

Running head: HEALTH AND SUSTAINABLE PLACES 1
A Report on Healthy Sustainable Spaces and Places

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Abstract
The following report is related to the megatrend of growing urbanization and need for sustainable practices
within the communities. As cities continue to grow and develop, the need for attractive and environment
friendly open spaces come into light. The report has also analyzed the relationship between built
environment and public health that determines the health and wellbeing of people. The report has taken
example of countries like Australia where urban development has been rapid in the past few years. Even
when the country is concerned about the health and wellbeing of its citizens, it requires well-designed
spaces to encourage active living. However, with proper urban planning and innovative building designs,
Australian cities can be transformed into good example for the use of open spaces. The report has also
discussed the need for built environments within the communities that supports human health and their
sustainable development. Urban planning and design have also been included to highlight the fact that
strategies and practices are required to make societies livable in the long run. The report has been critically
analysed by quoting examples from different countries and their ways of utilizing open spaces.

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Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................4
Main body of work.............................................................................................................................................4
The need for health and sustainable places................................................................................................4
Public health and built environment.............................................................................................................5
Urban planning and design...........................................................................................................................6
Discussion.........................................................................................................................................................6
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
According to Retief, et. al. (2016), urbanization has emerged as one of the most critical
megatrends and since it is inevitable, the need for more space to accommodate people has become a
challenge. The ageing infrastructure, insufficient urban services, poverty, resource scarcity, and
environmental degradation are few of the challenges that need examination and treatment. The urban
sprawl in countries like Australia has been a matter of concern for managing sustainability within the cities.
As identified by MacLachlan, Biggs, Roberts & Boruff (2017), in Australia, there is a wide and polarized
debate over the issues related to urban density and sustainability. Cities are becoming complex,
overcrowding and rates of developments suggests that city governments must focus on building healthy
and sustainable spaces to improve places. The value of maintaining a sustainable physical environment
promotes and improves public health. Evidence suggests that sustainable planning approach influences
people to lead a healthy life thereby reduction in stress and encourage exercise. As cities continue to grow
and develop, the lack of safe living spaces has stopped moving people. Urban spaces are required to be
humanized and transformed into social interactive spaces that allows the population to lead a healthy and
sustainable life. The following report deals with critical analysis on the public health and built environment in
cities that determines the health and wellbeing of people.
Main body of work
The need for health and sustainable places
According to Bai, et. al. (2016), in the 21st Century, securing human health and wellbeing is one of
the most important tasks that needs to be done with proper planning and actions. The traditional ways
comprised of soiled and narrow approaches that deviate from the social, economic and environment
priorities to move forward. Architectural giants across the globe will need to reach beyond the traditional
ways of creating built environment in cities. Planners and design professionals must focus on addressing
the built environment that influences people’s physical and mental health. Australia is a developed country
which aims at creating a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. However, the existing spaces need
redevelopment and new places are to be designed that shows a connection between the built environment
and the health and wellbeing of people. The well-designed spaces often encourage active living, so that
people can perform various physical recreational activities. The current moment of urban transition touches
on nearly every aspect of environmental change and modern human condition. The growth of the urban
population is expected to reach 2.4 billion people and approximately two-thirds will be dwelling in cities. The

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massive shift of the urban transition has led to striking changes in the lives of the people living in cities from
a long time. Australia is moving towards building up more apartments and townhouses on a smaller block
of land. However, according to several research and thoughts, this urban planning and development of
houses in a small concentrated area is not enough. Urban planning not only depends upon building more
open spaces and fulfilling the housing needs of city dwellers but also to consider making people aware of
sustainable practices of living. Public transport in Australia also needs to be revamped by letting people
walk more than using any sort of public transport. The need for open spaces is relatively more in the inner
city and more walkable spaces are required. However, not many people follow this due to unavailability of
schools, doctor clinic and shops in close proximity. According to Bessis (2018), when the house density
increases, the need for public places such as parks, areas for cycling, and eco-friendly transportation has
also increased. There would be too much congestion on the roads if the infrastructural developments
continue to build new homes close to good public transport and jobs. This indeed is impacting the
environment causing air and noise pollution.
Public health and built environment
The build environment includes the human made designs and layouts of the communities within
the cities where people live, work, play and lead their lives. Generally, a built environment is made up of
homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, parks, recreational areas, sidewalks and bike paths, green
spaces, streets, transit networks, buildings, factories and other food systems. The importance of a built
environment can be understood from the advantages its provides as it supports physical activity and
integrates open spaces within the city to allow people to interact with one another. Built environments can
help people connect and strengthen communities. This encourages people to build safe, clean and
attractive residential complexes and nearby areas. The relationship between public health and built
environment often supports human health and their sustainable development. The role of the built
environment in protecting and promoting human health is compelling but with the recent ongoing
developments, the chances of a proper urban planning is slim. It is also important to remember that the
physical world can lead to either a better or worse personal health. The ways communities are built has
continued to impact the people’s health and wellbeing. Even when there is an availability of sophisticated
healthcare services, the society is still facing growing health challenges and especially in the cities. People
living in the cities are highly prone to weight gain and obesity leading to other health issues such as heart
diseases and diabetes. The need for improving the environment and neighborhoods, it is necessary that
people concentrate on adopting sustainable practices for living a healthy life. People living in cities usually

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prefer using the public transportations or their personal vehicles. However, the impact they put on the
environment and themselves is beyond comparison. Health hazards are too common looking at the way
people dwell in cities and lack of urban planning. Due to this the life expectancy decreases and people
become more prone to deadly diseases. In addition to unhealthy lifestyle, the impact of climate change also
is a big concern for the population. The impact on human health can also be seen from the way
communities chose to live.
Urban planning and design
The concerns over climate change and its impact on the environment and human health is rising
with each passing day. Renewable sources are getting depleted and this draws the attention of people
towards adopting sustainable practices and urban planning. Urban planning requires strategies and
practices that ensure self-sustaining communities and livable societies in the longer run. Sustainable urban
planning involves architecture, engineering, support from government, economic development and
appropriate technology. This kind of planning is backed up by innovative designs, architecture and ways to
make communities more livable which would create lesser impact on the environment and natural
resources. Building of green complexes and housing, free walkable spaces, mixed-use developments,
open spaces and recreational areas can resolve the problems of modern urban planning. The efforts given
by professional planners, business leaders, community officials and citizens can lead to a well-developed
urban panning and design in areas where it is highly required such as urban cities in developed countries.
Urban and regional planners are important part of the society as they make cities and communities more
livable for the residents. The need for revitalization projects that addresses population growth and
environmental issues is highly required in cities and urban spaces. The extensive development of schools,
colleges, housing complexes, healthcare facilities and parks are also important parts of urban planning and
development. Cities are complex systems that gets affected by various economic, social and environmental
factors. It is estimated that about 65% of the population will dwell in cities by the year 2025 which will lead
to higher demand for public spaces and loss of green space. If the urban development continues to
increase in this manner, soon Australians are expected to extend their living areas to nearby areas. The
living spaces are expected to shrink, and people are going to live smaller homes. However, the scope of
improvement lies in the hands of the community planner and citizens in order to create more sustainable
areas of living. For instance, New York has set an example by promoting its active, sustainable lifestyle by
building The High Line. The Seine River in Paris has also reinvented waterfronts with a goal of returning the

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river to residents. These developments have made it possible for the society to start considering their own
good.
Discussion
Long term planning and rapid expansion of the cities indicate that the society needs certain
transformation. When the need for sustainable practices come into existence, people think of revamping its
public spaces and this encourages them to take ownership of their communities. The effective participation
of community dwellers and public policy makers allows them to create a better environment for its citizens.
In the modern times, as the world is shrinking, people are looking for more open spaces and are reluctant
to live in high storey buildings. City dwellers often prefer living in safer and environment friendly
neighborhoods due to the rising concerns of sustainable environment. Different communities have different
planning for its people. It not about building apartments and high-rise developments within the cities to
accommodate the people but it is about creating more sustainable environments for people. Nowadays,
people have become highly concerned about their health, surrounding and lifestyles. Australia is a
developed nation and needs to consider building its communities and city areas into more compact way of
living. However, the real challenge lies in using the same model for low-density housing which has led to
lesser greener spaces around the houses. Parks and green spaces have become critical in providing
places for people of all ages. It is true that a lot of open spaces are not designed to meet the needs or fulfil
the actual purpose as people are not visiting parks often, or even when they are visiting, they do not
engage themselves in any kind of physical activities. Therefore, if people are concerned about the
environment and brings changes in the community, they must realize the appropriate utilization of their
existing spaces. Urbanization has advanced over time and with different development needs, cities are
facing unavoidable challenges. However, with collaborative efforts, it is possible to support proper urban
planning and design.
Conclusion
The Global human population is increasing creating a pressure on resources, society, environment
and infrastructure. The future generations rely on the current generation and therefore people require to
learn how to do more with less. The rapid increase of urbanization demands construction of high-rise
buildings but the aim must be towards achieving sustainability and productivity. As per recent studies,
construction of buildings can consume approximately 32% of the world's resources, including water and
energy, and contributing to waste and air emissions. The benefits of building sustainable environment and

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surroundings will allow people to cause minimal ecological impact and ensure that buildings are made
affordable, adaptable and requires low maintenance. A socially sustainable design contributes a positive
effect on the community and urban spaces. However, it is not only important to create a safe society for
everyone but also creating places that promotes healthy environment for people. Therefore, it can be
concluded that if people are concerned to bring changes in their surroundings, its positive impact will help
them to create a better future.

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References
Bai, X., Surveyer, A., Elmqvist, T., Gatzweiler, F. W., Güneralp, B., Parnell, S., ... & Toussaint, J. P. (2016).
Defining and advancing a systems approach for sustainable cities. Current opinion in
environmental sustainability, 23, 69-78.
Bessis, H. (2018). Is increasing population density the solution to the land-squeeze in successful cities?
Retrieved from https://www.citymetric.com/fabric/increasing-population-density-solution-land-
squeeze-successful-cities-4092
MacLachlan, A., Biggs, E., Roberts, G., & Boruff, B. (2017). Urban growth dynamics in Perth, Western
Australia: Using applied remote sensing for sustainable future planning. Land, 6(1), 9.
Retief, F., Bond, A., Pope, J., Morrison-Saunders, A., & King, N. (2016). Global megatrends and their
implications for environmental assessment practice. Environmental Impact Assessment
Review, 61, 52-60.

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