The Feasibility of Transitioning Low-density Suburbs into Healthy Walkable Neighbourhoods: The Case of Adelaide, South Australia

ABSTRACT

Research has demonstrated that there are health and equity benefits attached to residing in neighbourhoods with the design, diversity and density required for walkability. Research has tended to show that the very low residential densities found in Australian suburbs are major obstacles to retrofitting walkability. We undertook a survey of 27 neighbourhoods and their activity centres in Adelaide, South Australia to ascertain the minimum residential densities required to make a diverse activity centre viable. The findings suggest that retrofitting established suburbs with the design and viable destinations required to substantially improve walkability does not require large increases in residential density.

摘要

研究表明，居住在可步行性所需的设计、多样性和密度的街区，对健康和公平都有好处. 研究表明，在澳大利亚郊区发现的非常低的居住密度是改善步行能力的主要障碍. 我们对南澳大利亚阿德莱德的27个社区及其活动中心进行了调查，以确定使多样化活动中心可行所需的最低居住密度. 研究结果表明，改造既有郊区的设计和可行的目的地，以大幅提高步行能力，并不需要大幅增加居住密度.

KEYWORDS:

• Neighbourhood walkability
• residential density
• activity centre viability
• Adelaide

Disclosure Of Potential Conflicts Of Interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).