Exploring Scotland’s 20-minute neighbourhoods: final report published
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 15th June 2022
The ALLIANCE's Academy programme and partners have published a report exploring the 20-minute neighbourhood concept.
Throughout 2021 the ALLIANCE’s Health and Social Care Academy programme, in partnership with Disability Equality Scotland and Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, ran a series of events on ‘Exploring Scotland’s 20-minute neighbourhoods’. Our new report shares key findings from the series, which explored the benefits and challenges of a 20-minute neighbourhood through the lens of inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility.
The aim of a 20-minute neighbourhood is that people can access all the things they need in their daily lives, including community spaces, shops, and essential public services, within 20 minutes walk, wheel or cycle from their home.
Our sessions highlighted that the concept itself wasn’t new but had been spoken about for years using different framing. Inclusion within the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government (this link will take you away from our website) was consider to have given more political emphasis to the ambition.
Getting around was a key issue – not only do communities need to be well-connected to each other via accessible public transport, active travel routes, and disabled parking, it also needs to be easy to travel to within each neighbourhood, with good pavement infrastructure, appropriate lighting, and plenty of places to rest.
The loss of local high streets, and amenities like shops, GP surgeries, banks and public toilets was described as having a detrimental impact. Diversity of housing really matters as well, and needs to account for different family sizes and structures, accessibility including for wheelchairs, and adaptability, so people can live in the same home as they age. Investment and planning is needed to ensure that local town centres are great places to live, work and socialise in.
Participants also spoke about the importance of greenspace. Even when greenspace is nearby it isn’t often high quality, may not be accessible and does not always feel safe. As with housing, it is important that there are different types of spaces available to cater to different people, including both wider open and smaller more intimate spaces.
The report makes several key recommendations for Scottish Government, local authorities, listed authorities, and planning authorities. It concludes that 20-minute neighbourhoods have the potential to be transformational for everyone in society. To achieve this, people must be at the heart of planning, design, and delivery.
Each neighbourhood is unique, and its design and implementation will have to be tailored to the specific needs of individual populations. Joined up working across the public, private and third sector is essential and the voice of lived experience will need to be an equal partner in this process.
You can read the full report here, or via the linked resource below.
Watch the short animation summarising our findings.
Reflections on the 20-minute neighbourhood concept by Irene Beautyman, Place and Wellbeing Partnerships Lead at Public Health Scotland.
End of document.
End of page.
You may also like:
Disability Information Scotland offer training courses designed to help you ensure your online information is accessible to everyone.
Continue readingThis year’s campaign is ‘get comfortable and start talking about mental health’.
Continue readingWe have submitted a parallel report to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights for its examination of rights in the UK.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE welcome the aims of widening access to palliative care, but actions must be underpinned by resources and accountability.
Continue readingGWT have a new package of support available for people interested in or involved in delivering intergenerational work with school pupils.
Continue readingALLIANCE Members came together to connect, share experience, and discuss key issues facing those with learning disabilities across Scotland.
Continue readingAutistic Knowledge Development and National Autistic Society Scotland celebrate the success of the Embrace Autism programme.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE wants to hear from you if you have experienced barriers to accessing Self-Directed Support.
Continue readingOur annual conference, titled 'Our Voices Matter, will be held on 30 April 2025 at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow.
Continue readingThis gives the first high-level understanding of progress towards the promise made to Scotland's care experienced children and young people.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingThe Academy has continued to raise awareness of the conditions necessary for long term, meaningful and sustainable change.
Continue reading2024 was another successful year for the Self Management Programme.
Continue readingRead about the Pension Age Disability Payment and upcoming stakeholder events.
Continue readingThe ALISS programme has continued to grow and develop over 2024.
Continue readingThe membership team has sought to review, renew, and refresh the ALLIANCE membership experience.
Continue readingThe programme has positively impacted digital inclusion by improving people's access to digital tools and services.
Continue readingThe First Minister has reiterated his commitment to the continuation of Contact Scotland BSL.
Continue readingWe continue to build strong relationships, champion integrated ways of working, sharing learning and highlighting lived experience.
Continue readingThe Scottish Sensory Hub has worked to raise sensory awareness and influence systems change, grounded in lived experience.
Continue readingThe Policy and Public Affairs programme influenced government policy in many areas over 2024.
Continue readingRaising awareness of key areas of women’s health, challenging myths and stigma through positive dialogue, and lived experience forums.
Continue readingEat Well Age Well training aims to increase attendees' knowledge and confidence around identifying and supporting older people at home.
Continue readingScotland Reducing Gambling Harm works to raise awareness of, and advocate for, a public health approach to tacking gambling harm in Scotland
Continue reading11 December marked the launch of the National Collaborative's Charter of Rights for People Affected by Substance Use.
Continue reading