Does quality of the built environment affect social cohesion?

Abstract

It is widely claimed in UK policy, practice and research that high quality built environments have positive social benefits for residents. This claimed association is, however, not supported by an evidence base, nor is there consensus on how high quality or social cohesion are defined. This paper aims to provide definitions of both concepts, calling on primary research conducted in six study sites in England. The findings show that features of quality of the built environment have varying influence on social activity. Residents' perceptions of quality of the neighbourhood and the level of maintenance and the character of the neighbourhood are positively associated with sense of community and place attachment, while density is negatively associated with social interaction and perceptions of trust. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications that the findings have for UK policy and practice.