Place Matters. The ways our communities have been designed and built have changed our world… and our health. Find out:
- Why land use is a public health issue;
- How location impacts health; and
- How Peel Public Health is building a healthy environment
Why land use is a public health issue
In the 19th century, the professions of public health and planning came together to create a separation of land uses and protect the public from exposure to toxins, improve crowded housing conditions and implement sanitary reform.
During this period, separation of industrial and residential land uses, disposal of waste and the provision of safe drinking water were the main responsibilities of public health. The overall health of communities and the people who lived there soon improved dramatically. But we soon started to see a pattern of suburban development typically seen in North America today: low density neighbourhoods with poor street connectivity that are built for the car and not the pedestrian.
Definitions:
Density – a measure of the quantity of a certain element
How location impacts health
These designs have been linked to a wide range of health problems, including physical inactivity, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, asthma and respiratory disease. Today, the fields of planning and public health are coming together again to combat the wide range of health problems typical of such auto-dependent environments.
The shape of our communities can have an impact on air quality. Features such as low density, separated land uses and poor connectivity between the different land uses can contribute to an increased reliance on the private automobile and in turn, increased levels of air pollution. Building design can also lead to increased levels of air pollution as inefficient buildings use more energy. To learn more about the impact of air quality on health, visit Clean Air Peel.
The evidence is clear. Where you live affects your health. How you live impacts your environment.
How Peel Public Health is building a healthy environment
Peel Public Health is a leader – locally and nationally – in changing the way communities are designed and built. We are:
- bringing health and well-being to discussions on land use and transportation planning across the region;
- developing policies and long-term goals for the Regional Official Plan jointly with Development and Transportation Planning;
- creating a repository of current and emerging research and sharing it with our community partners; and
- working with partners from across Canada to create state-of-the-art tools and guidelines to help planners, developers, policy-makers and public health officials make health-informed decisions.
Peel Public Health is involved in the development of a Climate Change Strategy for the geographic region of Peel. The way our communities are designed, including our travel patterns and building design, can impact the way we use energy, which in turn can influence our health and climate through issues such as the Urban Heat Island.
Peel Public Health is staying ahead of the curve by focusing on built environments as a strategic priority. We are determined to build healthy, active communities for every resident.
Definitions:
Mixed land use – a measure of the different types of land
Related Links:
- Planning Policy: Read about the Regional Official Plan, and see how this long-term plan is used to assist the Region in managing growth and development.
- Development Planning: Find information on the development application process as well as guides for land use planning.
- Transportation Planning: Access the Region’s Transportation Plan and see how the Region uses transportation studies (such as the Transportation Tomorrow Survey which examines the travel behaviour of Peel residents) to forecast future travel demand.)