20 Minute Neighbourhoods in a Scottish Context

Abstract

The Programme for Government 2020 commits the Scottish Government to working with local government and other partners to take forward ambitions for 20 minute neighbourhoods: Places that are designed so residents have the ability to meet the vast majority of their day-to-day needs within a 20 minute walk (approximately 800 metres) of their home; through access to safe walking and cycling routes, or by public transport. This projects supports this by: 1) Considering the ambition for 20 minute neighbourhoods in Scotland, taking account of the differing settlement patterns across the country, and to highlight interventions that would support delivery of the concept, supported by findings from the baseline analysis. 2) Analysing international evidence of the success of interventions to achieve these ambitions, including identifying specific success factors, place-making impacts, barriers to success, regulatory frameworks, funding mechanisms and stakeholder engagement and buy-in. It uses five dimensions to capture the features and infrastructure, and quality of services and experience that make up a 20 minute neighbourhood: Stewardship, Civic, Movement, Resources and Spaces. The baseline assessment has shown that communities across Scotland have the required services and infrastructure that would allow them to be 20 minute neighbourhoods. This is the case across both urban and rural settlement areas.