Designing healthy communities : Creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres

Journal article


Gunn, Lucy, Mavoa, Suzanne, Boulange, Claire, Hooper, Paula, Kavanagh, Anne and Giles-Corti, Billie. (2017). Designing healthy communities : Creating evidence on metrics for built environment features associated with walkable neighbourhood activity centres. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 14, p. Article: 164. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0621-9
AuthorsGunn, Lucy, Mavoa, Suzanne, Boulange, Claire, Hooper, Paula, Kavanagh, Anne and Giles-Corti, Billie
Abstract

Background
Evidence-based metrics are needed to inform urban policy to create healthy walkable communities. Most active living research has developed metrics of the environment around residential addresses, ignoring other important walking locations. Therefore, this study examined: metrics for built environment features surrounding local shopping centres, (known in Melbourne, Australia as neighbourhood activity centres (NACs) which are typically anchored by a supermarket); the association between NACs and transport walking; and, policy compliance for supermarket provision.

Methods
In this observational study, cluster analysis was used to categorize 534 NACs in Melbourne, Australia by their built environment features. The NACS were linked to eligible Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel Activity 2009-2010 (VISTA) survey participants (n=19,984). Adjusted multilevel logistic regressions estimated associations between each cluster typology and two outcomes of daily walking: any transport walking; and, any ‘neighbourhood’ transport walking. Distance between residential dwellings and closest NAC was assessed to evaluate compliance with local planning policy on supermarket locations.

Results
Metrics for 19 built environment features were estimated and three NAC clusters associated with walkability were identified. NACs with significantly higher street connectivity (mean:161, SD:20), destination diversity (mean:16, SD:0.4); and net residential density (mean:77, SD:65) were interpreted as being ‘highly walkable’ when compared with ‘low walkable’ NACs, which had lower street connectivity (mean:57, SD:15); destination diversity (mean:11, SD:3); and net residential density (mean:10, SD:3). The odds of any daily transport walking was 5.85 times higher (95% CI: 4.22, 8.11), and for any ‘neighborhood’ transport walking 8.66 (95% CI: 5.89, 12.72) times higher, for residents whose closest NAC was highly walkable compared with those living near low walkable NACs. Only highly walkable NACs met the policy requirement that residents live within 1km of a local supermarket.

Conclusions
Built environment features surrounding NACs must reach certain levels to encourage walking and deliver walkable communities. Research and metrics about the type and quantity of built environment features around both walking trip origins and destinations is needed to inform urban planning policies and urban design guidelines.

Keywordstransport walking; planning policy; built environment; urban design; neighbourhood activity/town centre; cluster analysis; land use mix; geographic information systems
Year2017
JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Journal citation14, p. Article: 164
PublisherBiomed Central Ltd
ISSN1479-5868
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-017-0621-9
PubMed ID29202849
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85037612474
PubMed Central IDPMC5716232
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range1-12
FunderNational Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online04 Dec 2017
Publication process dates
Accepted22 Nov 2017
Deposited06 Dec 2021
Grant IDNHMRC/1107672
NHMRC/1061404
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8x29y/designing-healthy-communities-creating-evidence-on-metrics-for-built-environment-features-associated-with-walkable-neighbourhood-activity-centres

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