Clear link between good public space and community wellbeing, study finds

A research programme is seeking to identify the key components needed to develop community wellbeing.

Place and space are essential elements in developing a feeling of community wellbeing. This was among the initial findings of a programme carried out by The What Works Centre for Wellbeing, a consortium of four universities and five civic organisations.

The team, which is carrying out a Community Wellbeing Evidence Programme, contacted an “extensive national mailing list of stakeholders” asking them to complete an online survey.

Respondents highlighted activities that reclaimed the public realm through community gardens, transition towns and play streets. Alongside this pride in place there was a “growing shared intolerance of incivility”, said team member Professor Rhiannon Corcoran at the Heseltine Institute of Public Policy and Practice, University of Liverpool.

She said that stakeholders were asked to briefly describe a “real-life setting” which they felt showed a high level of community wellbeing. They were asked to explain “why or how this high wellbeing is apparent”.

Professor Corcoran said: “While not all of our respondents could answer this question, a sizeable minority did feel they knew community wellbeing when they saw it.”

Their descriptions fell broadly into three themes:  exemplars of strong community wellbeing; catalysts for community wellbeing; sustainers of community wellbeing.

“In terms of structure, the more organic places were experienced as better connected, enabling informal everyday interactions while also nurturing a sense of belonging,” said Professor Corcoran.

“Ownership, connection and belonging are the staple ingredients of a common wisdom of place that, if enacted, will lead to supportive and flourishing communities.”

Professor Corcoran will be speaking at Transforming London Streets