New opinion research from Arcadis and YouGov shows the public’s top priorities for a post-COVID recovery are to support key elements of ‘15-minute communities’ through investment in public health, green infrastructure and town centres. These public priorities closely match those of public sector leaders interviewed by Arcadis - who see trends towards 15-minute communities accelerating. The findings suggest a strong opportunity for industry collaboration to deliver on these goals.
According to new opinion research from Arcadis and YouGov, as the UK emerges from lockdown, the public and local leaders are at one in seeing the post-COVID recovery as a unique opportunity for a radical re-think of how we view our communities and live our lives.
With people spending more time than ever living, working and at leisure in their more immediate surroundings – and this likely to be a lasting change – the impetus is growing for much more emphasis to be given to local sustainability, health and convenient access to amenities. These goals are key principles in developing what is becoming known as the ’15-minute community’, representing thriving places, where people have access to much more of what they need within 15 minutes of their home.
The public opinion polling asked members of the public which three priorities they considered most important to help their local area recover economically from the pandemic. The highest priority, chosen by 36 per cent, was health infrastructure, then improvements to the high street and town centre amenities at 30 per cent, with green infrastructure such as sustainable housing and transport schemes close behind at 29 per cent.
With considerable home-working set to continue ahead, the demand for homes that are fit for purpose is also stronger than ever and reinforced by the polling research. When questioned specifically on what the green priorities for the recovery should be, 37 per cent - the highest figure - wanted retrofitting of existing homes to make them more energy efficient, greener and cheaper to run.
Arcadis also tested these findings with many of its clients and key figures working in and with the local government sector. Arcadis found that local leaders agree the recovery should focus on creating healthy, green and thriving communities as well as providing an effective public health response which also remains a key challenge. The majority saw the move towards designing communities around 15-minute principles as a trend that was likely to accelerate over the coming months.
The findings and further research will form part of a coming report being produced by Arcadis, that will outline what key ambitions and objectives the public and private sectors can rally around as we look to build back better.
Mark Cowlard, CEO of Arcadis UK and Ireland, said:
“This research demonstrates what we are collectively thinking and now beginning to talk about. We need to think differently about how we build and shape where and how we live when we look ahead.
“There is a growing alignment emerging about how the idea of ‘15-minute communities’ can be a key part of the recovery. This is about developing much more active travel, alongside local amenities, public spaces and high streets we can use and visit including for work, and homes that are greener, more liveable and flexible.
“Having broad agreements in place about what building back better actually looks like helps galvanise cross-industry collaboration that can support local authorities in taking forward these changes. At Arcadis we recognise that our public sector clients around the world are continually adapting and responding to new priorities, no more so than now. This is why public and private sectors need to bring expertise together and help build a shared recovery that brings positive changes, despite the challenges we have faced.”
One of the public sector leaders interviewed by Arcadis, Andrea Dell, Head of the Bristol City Office, said:
“This research confirms what we are seeing locally in Bristol, where key concerns focus on how we can bring back public confidence in travelling safely into the city centre whilst managing the impacts of more people working and spending locally. Through Bristol’s ‘One City’ plan and efforts to bring together all sectors of the city’s economy and society, we have been well placed to respond to these challenges. However, it will be more important than ever to build on this over the next 12 months, maintaining dialogue and involvement and sharing best practice with other cities and regions to develop a recovery that is sustainable, healthy and inclusive.”
Clare Elliott, Service Director, Economic Growth and Skills at Wakefield Council, also interviewed, said:
“Like many towns and cities, the COVID-19 pandemic has allowed us to assess the challenges and opportunities we face with new clarity. Since the pandemic hit, we have seen a renewed interest and appreciation in people exploring what their local area has to offer, from local businesses to the natural environment. We’ve also seen people showing a much stronger environmental consciousness and a determination for the future to be as sustainable as possible. Wakefield has a commitment to net zero carbon by 2030 and we see it as an opportunity for growth, providing skills and economic opportunities.”
