The Place Standard Good Lives and Decent Societies workshop 14 th May 2014 Rory Mitchell, NHS Health Scotland

“Wellbeing” Overview A word on health and health inequalities The idea of a “Place Standard” A brief history of the project Our work so far Current challenges

What is health? “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” World Health Organisation (1948)

A brief history of the Place Standard  Good Places, Better Health launched in 2008 as the Scottish Government’s strategy on the environment and health (now being taken forward by NHS Health Scotland)  A new approach to the environment and health… an environment not only free from physical, toxic, infectious and allergenic hazard, but also:  Nurturing of positive health, wellbeing and resilience  Consistent with and promoting of healthy behaviour  Consistent with the development and maintenance of social capital  Consistent with greater equity in health

A brief history of the Place Standard Good Places, Better Health: recommendations of the Evaluation Group: “We wish to see a Scotland where a Scottish Neighbourhood Quality Standard is used as a standard for neighbourhood asset development.”

A brief history of the Place Standard Creating Places: a policy statement on architecture & place in Scotland “We will develop a Place Standard assessment tool, which will….. address quality in relation to places that support healthy and sustainable lifestyles.”

The Place Standard Project Partners:  Scottish Government (Architecture & Place)  NHS Health Scotland  Architecture & Design Scotland A Place Standard for Scotland

What is a Place Standard? “The Place Standard will articulate what makes a good, sustainable place and support actions and facilitate processes which deliver places of the highest quality” “The purpose of the Place Standard is to ensure that all places in Scotland nurture the wellbeing of the people within them”

Place Standard Objectives  Support the delivery of high quality sustainable places and promote wellbeing through design changes to environments.  Improve the quality of both existing places and new places.  Provide a framework for structured conversations, supporting public and private sectors and communities to work together to deliver high quality places.  Maximise the contribution of place to reducing health inequalities across Scotland

The story so far… Concepts shaping the place standard: –Liveability –Social sustainability –Quality of life –Wellbeing These concepts have been hugely helpful in: –Facilitating a shared language amongst partners and in stakeholder workshops –Focussing discussion and shaping aims of our work –Identifying and articulating outcomes “what is it like to live here?”

Social sustainability Design for Social Sustainability – Social Life / Young Foundation 2011

People’s experience of a place lighting social hubs physical activity greenspace perception of safety housing tenure active travel shops alcohol outlets social capital cars local services employment opportunities walkability connections community gardens public transport leisure facilities crime density sense of identity local stories maintenance paths trust economic investment neighbourhood incivilities neighbourhood attractiveness Natural spaces

The Place Standard – (some of) the challenges Creating something that can be used to shape ‘new’ places and the evolution of ‘existing’ places Taking account of diversity of places – each has it’s own unique context, community, challenges and opportunities Applying a core set of principles across different spatial scales Delivering something that will be used by: the private sector (developers), the public sector (CPPs) and communities Integrating and adding to numerous other policies and guidance relevant to creating places

Does a wellbeing lens help to rethink our goals and priorities? The concept of wellbeing supports the shift in thinking about the environment and health from ‘hazards’ to places that create health The wellbeing focus in ‘Good Places Better Health’ has helped broaden our understanding of the relationship between the environment and health Highlighted common drivers and influences that affect multiple outcomes  strengthened case for action

The Place Standard and Wellbeing The role of wellbeing in the project has evolved organically. It has: …influenced thinking in both the health and architecture worlds …helped align work across ‘silos’, providing a shared language and understanding …and helped maintain a focus on the experiences of people and communities “the purpose of the Place Standard is to ensure that all places in Scotland nurture the wellbeing of the people within them”

Acknowledgements and References Thanks to the Place Standard Project Team: Johnny Cadell, Jamie Combe, Eric Dawson, Diarmaid Lawlor, Kathleen Marshall, Megan MacPherson, Louise Rennick, Sandy Robinson And to: Sheila Beck Key references: –Good Places Better Health ( Health ) Health –Creating Places ( ) –Design for Social Sustainability ( Sustainability/ ) Sustainability/ Contact: