Spatial strategies for healthy environments

Subtitle:case street canyons

Abstract:In recent decades, a clear change in climate has been observed and more heat waves are predicted. In addition, there has been a sharp increase in the population in urban areas. In the coming years, the population in most Flemish cities and municipalities will continue to grow and a considerable expansion and compaction of the cities is expected (Flemish Government, 2017). Both trends present the Flemish Government with considerable challenges in the field of spatial planning and health.
The coalition agreement of the Flemish Government describes the ambition to strengthen the spatial organisation of Flanders and to improve the quality of life. This coalition agreement expresses the commitment to integrate heat stress into environmental planning in function of the future policy choices (Flemish Government, 2014). In implementation of this coalition agreement, the White Paper on the Flanders Spatial Policy Plan states that spatial development must focus on the promotion of the general state of health of the human being. Reducing air pollution, noise pollution and heat stress is one of the biggest challenges in the Flemish street canyons that must be tackled in spatial projects and programmes (Flanders, 2016).

Publication year:2018

Accessibility:Open

Review status:Not peer-reviewed