Growing old in New Towns: A call for research on health and ageing in planned urban environments. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Milton, Sarah; Mold, Alex; Tinker, Anthea; Herrick, Clare
• Is Part Of: Health & place. Volume 58(2019:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Ageing -- Planning -- Urban health; Health -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Health services accessibility -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Political planning -- Periodicals; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; Health Policy -- Periodicals; Health Services Accessibility -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Public Policy -- Periodicals; Sociology, Medical -- Periodicals; Épidémiologie -- Périodiques; Politique sanitaire -- Périodiques; Santé, Services de -- Accessibilité -- Périodiques; Health services accessibility; Health -- Social aspects; Political planning; Public health; Social medicine; Periodicals; 613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102166
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1353-8292

Abstract

Abstract: This paper focuses on the planning of New Towns in the UK in order to explore what the design and planning of urban spaces can tell us about which populations and their health matter and are prioritized, at different points in time. We concentrate on how ageing was conceptualized, and what this tells us about how ageing societies and bodies are accounted for and understood. Through the dynamic evolution of people and place, we can also come to see that what was once viewed as health promoting can become entangled with the causes of ill health. We recommend further multidisciplinary research into the planning of future cities and urban environments. Highlights: This paper calls for critical research on ageing, health and urban planning. Multidisciplinary research on the planning and design of 'new' environments is timely. New Towns produce dynamic and longitudinal relationships between people and places. Previous 'healthy' designs can become entangled with the causes of ill health. Flexible design of urban space should adapt to changing age profiles of populations.