Spatial Planning and Better Health - Essay Example

Spatial planning and better health Is it over-ambitious to expect spatial planning to deliver better health? History of planning and health Formal spatial planning can be traced to the contaminated water sources in 19th century in London that resulted to the Sanitation reforms and establishment of sewer system (Morphet 2010, p 199). During the same time, efforts of planning were also dedicated towards addressing the challenges associated with slim housing due to the high urbanisation. In other parts of the world, the rapid industrialisation and growth of factories led to significant water pollution due to haphazard disposal of hazardous waste and air pollution. The England Sanitary reformers started developing sewer systems in all cities in order to address the outbreak of epidemics such as cholera, influenza and tuberculosis (Jackson 2011, p 23). In the last two decades, there has been considerable interest in the relationship between the fields of urban planning and public health in order to address the major health concerns (Greed, 1999, p 9). Currently, the role of government in urban environment and city planning has been critical in enhancing the health of population since city planners issue built environment regulations and zoning laws that determine the design of the infrastructure, sewer systems, roads, public spaces and social amenities in the neighborhoods (Boone and Modarres 2009, p 30). Spatial planning leads to better health and sustainable communities. Applications of planning policies in public health Planning concepts such as Spatial Urban Health Equity Indicators (SUHEI) allows the urban planning authorities to determine the relationship between exposure to health hazards and health effects. The initial goal of planning was to offer healthy living conditions for the growing urban populations, but recent planning efforts focus on the importance of space and place in the communities (Cullingworth and Nadin, 2006, p 9). According to environmental research, the surrounding social, biological, chemical and physical factors determine the quality of health of an individual since factors such as unemployment, unsafe neighborhoods, noise and radiation negatively affect the health and wellbeing of an individual. The Driving force-Pressure-State-Exposure-Effect-Action (DPSEEA) model outlines that driving forces push the environmental factors that that ultimately pressure the environment through human exploitation thus exposing human beings to conditions that turn out to be environmental hazards (Jackson, 2011, p 13). The Multiple Exposures-Multiple Effects (MEME) model outlines that contextual factors such as economic development, demographics and social conditions influence the exposure to health hazards and health outcomes since factors like unemployment, lack of housing and traffic jams lead to negative health outcomes of communities (Barton and Tsourou, 2013, p 98). Spatial planning improves the access to planned green space that influences the physical activity levels of a certain locality especially the low socio-economic groups that cannot afford physical fitness facilities such as gym (Cullingworth and Nadin, 2006, 24). The planned green space reduces the heat stress levels and skin damage due to tree shading. The open spaces, sports and recreational spaces play a key role in promoting health living and preventing of diseases since the residents acquire a sense of wellbeing and improve their social interactions (Davoudi and Strange 2008, p 10). Mixed land use promotes physical activity since individuals can either walk or cycle to their workplace places, shopping or spend time outdoors (Adams and Tiesdell, 2013, p 22). Spatial planning considers the means of transport available in the communities. Transport provides the access to health facilities, social services and work and thus spatial planning should ensure efficient transport systems that enhance the access to the social services and health facilities. Planning is able to reduce traffic congestions and reduced deaths associated with road traffic injuries. Steep hills and busy roads increase the possibility of road accidents and measures such as roundabouts, one-way roads and road humps should be imposed in order to reduce road accidents in neighborhoods. The victims of road accidents should easily access health facilities for immediate first aid and medication. The road network must ensure easy accessibility to workplace (Eylers, 2010, p 160). Spatial planning ensures air quality through regulating the acceptable car emissions in certain locations and setting up factories away from residential buildings. Reduction of traffic, green spaces and ventilation in housing policies further improve the quality of air thus leading to healthier communities (Dannenberg, Frumkin and Jackson, 2011, p 83). Planning helps tackle crime through interventions such as street lighting and wide roads that allow movement thus reducing the level of crime. The landscaping of the private and public places enhances natural surveillance thus helping curb crime rates. Accordingly, planned areas have lower risks of flooding thus reducing the possibility of outbreak of water-borne diseases. The neighborhoods have drainage tunnels that control flooding of water thus minimising health risks. In addition, the road infrastructure has drainage tunnels and sewer system that control outbreak of water-borne diseases and epidemics (Adams and Tiesdell, 2013, p 16). Challenges and opportunities Spatial planning is currently facing challenges in safeguarding the health of citizens due to the demographic changes that have led to increase in the high number of aged residents suffering from terminal illnesses. In this case, planners have been forced to ensure that aged residents can receive health care at the comfort of their homes. The decline in land acreage is a constrain in providing some of the spatial planning facilities that improve the quality of health such as dual-way roads and cycling paths (Williams and Taylor, 2013, p 34). Another constrain is the high costs associated with conducting environmental impact audit assessments and provision of the public amenities such as efficient street lighting. Most of the facilities that improve the livelihoods of the neighborhoods are provided by the local authorities and are costly for the taxpayers (Crane and Weber, 2012, p 115). There are several opportunities that planners can exploit in order to promote health and well-being of communities such as creating neighborhoods that have social spaces in order to foster social cohesion and interaction among the members. The urban design principles require planners to consider the population density, the pedestrian facilities on roads, street connectivity and traffic signals in order to reduce congestion in the communities and ensure road safety. The future planning decisions should focus on health burdens that results from poorly ventilated housing and damp housing, or heat waves since addressing these issues can control respiratory diseases, heart disease and injuries in homes (Williams and Taylor, 2013, p 30). The air quality has a substantial impact of on the health of individuals and spatial planning should improve the quality of air through creating greener neighborhoods and creating smoking zones in cities. There should be recycling system such as doorstep recycling services, container yards and split bins in public spaces in order to control littering (Williams and Taylor 2013, p 31). Case studies in developed countries: Case study of London in UK Planning in developed countries aims at promoting the wellbeing of the communities through creating healthy and sustainable neighborhoods. A case study is London in U K where the city planning regulations outline the design layout of the residential areas, mixed use zones and infrastructure in order to promote healthy and sustainable living. The residential estates in London are carefully planned in order to allow access to places of work, control air and noise pollution and allow for access to public spaces (Corburn, 2013, p 69). The city has a good drainage and sewer system that controls flooding and ensure safe disposal of effluents from homes. Furthermore, there are walking and cycling areas while the signalised junctions in highways allow for quick movement of on roads (Zuckerman 2012, p 250). There is street lighting that deters crime and social amenities that encourage social cohesion. Case studies in developing countries: A Case study of Kibera slum in Kenya Developing countries have not embraced spatial planning in ensuring health and sustainable communities liked their developed counterparts. In many countries like Kenya, the open space on social housing in developing countries is insufficient since less than 1 percent of the residents have green space on their residential estates. The developing countries suffer from poor drainage, sewer systems and sanitation facilities thus leading to health-risks to the residents (Babones, 2009, p 89). The community is faced with high crime rate due to lack of street lighting and social amenities. Differences Planning regulations in developed countries such as UK provide for doorstep playable space within the sight of home for children and neighborhood playable spaces for the young people. The neighborhood play spaces are normally within half kilometer from home and there are social amenities such as tennis courts and social halls where community members can hold meetings. On the other hand, planning guidelines in developing countries in Kenya do not provide for playable open spaces or community halls where young people can interact and socialise (Williams and Taylor, 2013, p 32). The planning guidelines in developed countries consider the level exposures of residents since industrial centers are located away from homes or school facilities in order to provide peaceful and quiet places that enhance healthy living. On the other hand, developing countries are exposed to high noise levels from factories and highways since residential homes are located next to busy highways and factories that are noisy. In addition, certain homes are exposed to air pollution from the factories thus endangering the health of the residents especially the young children. For instance, Kibera slums have low housing standards and sanitation facilities that have led to high mortality rates. The residents have no easy access to work since most residents walk through narrow paths for more than two kilometer in order to reach the nearest railway station (Williams and Taylor, 2013, p 35). Conclusions Spatial planning aims at managing the determinants of health such as transport, housing, education, employment and environment. The aim of planning is to enhance the wellbeing of the communities through creating healthy and sustainable communities that have access to safe environment that is free from any form of pollution and access to physical exercise spaces. Organisations at the national and local levels should create indicators for urban environment and health outcomes in order to assess the impact of physical, social and natural environment on the urban health. The planning designs should enable residents to engage in physical activities such as walking and recycling in order to improve their physical fitness and minimise chances of suffering from lifestyle related diseases. The residential areas should combine educational facilities that improve skill development and community halls that encourage social cohesion. Planning should utilise strategic environmental assessments, sustainability audits and environmental impact assessments in order to understand the impact of plans in transportation, housing, urban design, education and employment in creating sustainable and healthy communities. The planning policies should consider the social fabric of the communities by addressing the social inequalities and enhancing the access to health, housing and community facilities in order to create healthy and attractive places that support the delivery of high quality health care and promote the wellbeing of the society. Reference list: Adams, D and Tiesdell, S. 2013. Shaping Places: Urban planning, design and development. London: Routledge. Babones, S.J. 2009. Social inequality and public health. London: Policy Press. Barton, H and Tsourou, C. 2013. Healthy Urban Planning. London: Routledge. Boone, C and Modarres, A. 2009. City and environment. London: Temple University Press. Corburn, J. 2013. Healthy City Planning: From neighborhood to National Health Equity. London: Routledge. Crane, R and Weber, R. 2012. The Oxford Handbook of Urban Planning. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Cullingworth, J.B and Nadin, V. 2006. Town and Country Planning in the UK. New York: Psychology Press. Dannenberg, A.L., Frumkin, H and Jackson, R.J. 2011. Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Health, wellbeing and sustainability. London: Island Press. Davoudi, S and Strange, I. 2008. Conceptions of space and place in strategic spatial planning. London: Routledge. Eylers, E.C. 2010. Hygiene and Health in Modern Urban Planning: The Sanatorium and its Role within the Modernist Movement. New York: Open University. Greed, C. 1999. Social Town Planning. New York: Psychology Press. Jackson, R.J. 2011. Designing Healthy Communities. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Morphet, J. 2010. Effective Practice in Spatial Planning. London: Routledge. Williams, D.G and Taylor, J.L. 2013. Urban Planning Practice in Developing Countries. London: Elsevier. Zuckerman, A.M. 2012. Healthcare strategic planning. London: Health Administration Press. Read More