HELLE JUUL: WE LACK UNDERSTANDING OF THE LINK BETWEEN URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PLANNING AND PUBLIC HEALTH
By thinking in terms of proactive solutions – such as access to green spaces, health-friendly and inviting urban environments, and innovative cross-sectoral approaches – we can reduce the burden of disease and strengthen overall well-being, writes Helle Juul from Juul Frost Architects.
Last week, Altinget published a list of citizens’ local political priorities, one year ahead of the municipal elections. When voters are asked about key issues, many point to elder care, public schools, and health and prevention.
These three areas are not only core municipal responsibilities, but also essential to social cohesion and citizen well-being.
With an aging population, it is crucial that elder care receives sufficient resources and quality. It’s not only about basic care but also about creating physical environments that support quality of life for older adults.
Public schools are the cornerstone of future society. Investing in learning, well-being, social skills, and modern teaching methods is necessary to prepare children for future demands. At the same time, schools must be places of community and inclusion – where physical surroundings play a vital role.
Prevention is an economic necessity
One focus area of particular interest to me is health and prevention. It is encouraging to see how the local agenda aligns with the recommendations from Juul Frost Architects’ 2022 publication The Future of Urban Health Culture.
This holistic perspective – which promotes prevention through improved physical environments and new approaches to health – opens up new avenues for local policy. Prevention is not only a health priority, but an economic necessity.
By thinking in terms of proactive solutions – such as access to green spaces, health-friendly and welcoming urban environments, and innovative cross-sectoral efforts – we can reduce disease burden and enhance overall well-being.
A holistic approach creates value because it is precisely at the intersection of elder care, public schools and health that local politics can make the greatest impact. By combining proven methods with innovative approaches from The Future of Urban Health Culture, we can create preventive physical frameworks that improve life quality for current and future generations.
As a local politician, it is about listening to voters’ priorities while thinking ahead. It’s a balancing act that demands courage, insight, and the ability to collaborate – but the results can be transformative.
Despite clear evidence, the physical environment is often overlooked in decision-making
Although it is well-documented that physical environments play a crucial role in public health, it is still difficult to make this perspective heard in decision-making processes.
Lack of awareness of physical planning as a health factor
Many modern societal health problems – loneliness, isolation, stress, obesity – can often be traced back to our surroundings. That’s why it’s obvious to incorporate health promotion into city and local planning.
A lack of understanding of physical planning as a health factor poses a clear risk.
One of the biggest challenges is that the connection between urban development, planning, and public health is not well understood.
Health is still seen as the domain of the healthcare sector, not urban planners or architects. This siloed mindset makes it hard to convince decision-makers to prioritise prevention through physical environments.
Reluctance to invest in prevention
Prevention requires long-term investments that don’t yield immediate results – and that makes it difficult to communicate their value in a political context where short-term gains are often favoured. When budgets are allocated, urgent needs like hospitals and care facilities are typically prioritised over preventive initiatives like safe walkways, well-lit green areas, or improvements to urban safety.
By incorporating health and well-being into urban planning, we can prevent many social and health-related issues: well-designed urban areas with attractive paths, parks, and cycling routes encourage everyday physical activity.
Neighbourhoods that encourage resident interaction – through shared spaces and inviting public design – counter loneliness and isolation. Crime-prevention principles like “eyes on the street,” good lighting, and open, active ground floors make people feel safer and more likely to venture into public spaces.
Interdisciplinary efforts break down silos
Research shows that access to green spaces not only reduces stress but also provides settings for social encounters and physical activity. The path forward is interdisciplinary collaboration and evidence-based planning. To overcome existing barriers, we need coordinated efforts among health professionals, urban planners, sociologists, and policymakers to create holistic solutions.
It also requires a stronger evidence-based approach, documenting the long-term health and economic benefits of designing prevention into physical environments. By prioritising preventive strategies in city planning, we can create urban spaces where people don’t just live – they thrive. With less stress, stronger social ties, and fewer lifestyle-related illnesses. It’s an investment that pays off in both quality of life and economic terms.