Briefing: Spaces and places

This article argues that the aim of urban design and planning should be to create thriving places for people to meet and communicate, to exchange ideas and to engage in healthy and active lifestyles. The challenge of creating thriving urban environments has arguably never been greater as the challenges of climate change become ever clearer and compound the problems of urban decay that we have only just begun to address. A comprehensive approach to urban design can aid mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, increase the health and happiness of the population, create jobs and improve economic vitality, and conserve and protect urban ecology. These are some of the typical concerns of contemporary urban design and planning. However, the aim is also for a wider approach to urban development, incorporating expertise from people-focused disciplines in the cultural, artistic, health and wellbeing sectors. The local community should be involved at all stages so that people have the spaces they want and need and feel ownership of their environment. The opportunity is here to make a difference in the creation of thriving spaces and places for people now and in the future.