Can walking habits be encouraged through area-based regeneration and relocation? A longitudinal study of deprived communities in Glasgow, UK

Curl, A. , Kearns, A. , Macdonald, L. , Mason, P. and Ellaway, A. (2018) Can walking habits be encouraged through area-based regeneration and relocation? A longitudinal study of deprived communities in Glasgow, UK. Journal of Transport and Health, 10, pp. 44-55. (doi: 10.1016/j.jth.2018.06.004) (PMID:31534906) (PMCID:PMC6751076)

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Abstract

This paper examines changes to the walkability of the built environment and associated changes in walking behaviour following area regeneration or relocation in Glasgow, UK. The aim is to contribute to longitudinal evidence of links between the built environment and walking behaviour. Most studies to date have been cross-sectional and the evidence they provide that changing the built environment will lead to changes in walking behaviour is weak. Our study examines how changes in neighbourhood walkability influence levels of walking in the local area. We use household survey data from deprived neighbourhoods in Glasgow undergoing housing-led and area regeneration at two time points, 2011 and 2015. Measures of walkability were calculated for each year as a product of intersection density (connectivity) and dwelling density and attached to survey data. Relationships between changes in walkability and repeated measures of walking frequency are examined. We compare changes in walking between those who move house compared with those who experience changes to the built environment in their existing home location. Those who relocate (‘movers’) are more likely to increase their frequency of walking in the neighbourhood, but this is not necessarily as a result of changes in the built environment as measured using walkability metrics. Prior walking habits are a strong influence, with those who walk at baseline being more likely to increase their walking later. Environmental improvements through renewal programmes are often of insufficient quality or extent to stimulate increased walking. It is likely that area regeneration needs to be combined with people-based and social interventions to produce ‘behavioural spillovers’ that encourage walking habits.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This research was conducted as part of the GoWell research and learning programme. GoWell is funded by the Scottish Government, NHS (National Health Service) Health Scotland, Glasgow Housing Association (Wheatley Group), Glasgow Centre for Population Health, and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. AE and LM are also supported by the Chief Scientist Office (SPHSU10).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Ellaway, Dr Anne and Curl, Dr Angela and Mason, Dr Phil and Kearns, Professor Ade and MacDonald, Mrs Laura
Authors: Curl, A., Kearns, A., Macdonald, L., Mason, P., and Ellaway, A.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > MRC/CSO SPHSU
College of Social Sciences > School of Education > Social Justice Place and Lifelong Education
College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
College of Social Sciences > School of Education > People, Place & Social Change
Journal Name:Journal of Transport and Health
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:2214-1405
ISSN (Online):2214-1413
Published Online:30 June 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Authors
First Published:First published in Journal of Transport and Health 10: 44-55
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
727621Neighbourhoods and CommunitiesAnne EllawayMedical Research Council (MRC)MC_UU_12017/10HW - MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit