Civic spaces

As more people live in our cities and towns, often in dwellings with smaller or no private open spaces and backyards, there is ever increasing pressure on parks and public spaces.

With smaller dwellings comes an increase in the number of lone person households and that can bring with it social isolation.

Social isolation is a significant issue for various reasons including;

• Social isolation increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and early death.

• It’s linked with depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.

• People who are isolated often engage in less movement.

• Less connected people are less likely to work, shop locally, and contribute to the economy.

• When people aren’t connected, communities are less able to respond to challenges like natural disasters, economic downturns, or pandemics.

• Sporting clubs, volunteering groups, cultural activities all suffer when fewer people feel connected or welcome

Civic spaces are not a magic bullet for social isolation but they can make a massive difference

They can become a community’s primary outdoor focal point

Represent a good response to the challenges of increasing residential density and expensive land

Respond to the need for spaces to connect e.g. sole person households

Often vary in scale…usually over 2,000m2 but can be smaller

Can contain versatile multi-use spaces frequently activated by public events and pedestrian traffic.

Often are co-located with community facilities

Ideally are in proximity to commercial and mixed land uses and public transport hubs.

A1 Strategy and Infrastructure we know the bigger isn’t always better when it comes to public space.