Built environment stakeholders' experiences of implementing healthy urban development: an exploratory study.

Area of Science:

• Urban planning and public health
• Built environment and health outcomes

Background:

• Healthy urban development is crucial for reducing global disease and injury.
• Integrating health into complex urban development projects faces challenges due to multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how principles of healthy design are implemented in urban development projects.
• To identify challenges and solutions for integrating health and wellbeing into the built environment.

Main Methods:

• Semi-structured interviews with 31 built environment and public health professionals across six countries.
• Thematic analysis of interview data using a hybrid deductive and inductive approach.

Main Results:

• Key challenges include managing risk, responsibility, and economic constraints, which hinder the adoption of healthy design measures.
• Demonstrating economic benefits and piloting innovative approaches can encourage developers to move beyond standard practices.
• Perspectives varied on the need for increased professional knowledge versus addressing financial barriers.

Conclusions:

• Economic factors and perceived risks are significant barriers to implementing healthy urban design.
• Strategies focusing on financial incentives and practical demonstrations are crucial for advancing healthy urbanism.
• Further research should prioritize investigating and overcoming these economic and practical implementation hurdles.