Understanding how to create healthier places: A qualitative study exploring the complex system of urban development decision-making

Le Gouais, Anna; Bates, Geoff; Callway, Rosalie; Kwon, Heeseo Rain; Montel, Lisa; Peake-Jones, Sian; White, Jo; Hasan, Md Nazmul; Koksal, Caglar; Barnfield, Andrew; Bondy, Krista; Ayres, Sarah

Abstract

Tackling complex system challenges like creating healthy environments requires understanding priorities and structures affecting multiple actors. This qualitative study, involving 132 multi-sectoral stakeholders spanning the urban development decision-making system, explores how to influence healthier place-making. Using thematic analysis we develop themes around competing stakeholder priorities; structural ‘rules’ and influential relationships; and justifying a focus on health, requiring greater clarity and consensus around definitions of ‘healthy’ urban development. Building on the socio-ecological model we highlight how a multi-faceted approach is required for change at multiple levels in the complex system to target individual actor motivations, organisational priorities and structural ‘rules’.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 31, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Apr 18, 2023
• Publication Date: May 1, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 12, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 12, 2023
• Journal: Health and Place
• Print ISSN: 1353-8292
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-2054
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 81
• Article Number: 103023
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103023
• Keywords: Urban development; Decision-making; System; Qualitative; Environmental determinants; Population health
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10746571
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1353829223000606?via%3Dihub