Positive perceptions of green and open space as predictors of neighbourhood quality of life: implications for urban planning across the city region

Abstract

The provision of green and open space in the face of wider development pressure is a key urban challenge. Despite this, few studies have critically investigated the quality of life implications of such provision. This paper focuses on perceptions of built environment factors and their influence on neighbourhood quality of life. Data are drawn from a household survey questionnaire completed by 483 residents living in three neighbourhoods in Dublin, Ireland – an inner city neighbourhood, a suburb and a peri-urban settlement. Positive perceptions of green and open space were identified as important predictors of high levels of neighbourhood satisfaction, surpassed only by dwelling characteristics. This suggests that development strategies which fail to provide for properly planned green and open spaces may be detrimental to neighbourhood quality of life. Furthermore, the results suggest a need for design solutions which consider neighbourhood typology in achieving improved neighbourhood quality of life.

Keywords:

• green and open space
• urban planning
• city region
• neighbourhood quality of life
• perceptions

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Brendan Murtagh (Queen's University Belfast) and Brendan Williams (University College Dublin) for their valuable comments on earlier drafts of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The research on which this article is based was funded by the Irish Research Council through the Graduate Research Education Programme in Sustainable Development.