Understanding inhabitants' experiences of neighbourhoods to support their health

Expected outcome

Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Robust evidence on how inhabitants experience their neighbourhood [1] and the impact of these experiences on their health and well-being. The research informs policies, strategies, neighbourhood planning and procurement for the green transition [1] of neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive [3] transformation and climate resilience.

Scope

Neighbourhoods are human-social constructs and environments. They are shaped by complex inter-connections and interdependencies of human and non-human actors in the natural and built environment [1] they comprise. An increasing body of research is looking at the relationship between people and the built environment, from neuro-architectural aspects of space to atmosphere and ambiance aspects in urban design and planning, influencing also the perception of beauty. Digitalisation is also allowing to understand, map and enhance how inhabitants experience the built environment. Yet, more evidence is needed on how inhabitants react to and identify with their neighbourhoods as well as the effects of these experiences on their physical and mental health and overall well-being. Such insights can help inform spatial planning and regeneration strategies for the green transition of neighbourhoods, including their nature-positive transformation and climate resilience, while delivering positive social and cultural impacts such as sense of community, security and belonging, or cultural identity. This topic will further investigate how inhabitants experience their neighbourhoods, the impact of these experiences on their health and well-being, and how these experiences can be improved through NEB in the context of the green transition. Proposals are expected to address all of the following: Obtain a deep understanding of inhabitants’ sensory and emotional experience of their neighbourhood and the impact of these experiences on their health and well-being. Proposals are expected to: Involve in the research a diversity of people and groups, including those in a vulnerable situation and/or marginalised (such as women, children, youth, older adults, people with physical and psychological functional variations and their families/carers, LGTBIQA+ people, migrants and refugees). Assess the extent to which experiences and impacts vary across sociodemographic groups as well as in neighbourh

What this means for cities and regions

Understanding inhabitants' experiences of neighbourhoods to support their health — qualitative, participatory research linking the built environment to physical and mental health outcomes. Cities, public health authorities, neighbourhood organisations and academic teams participate. Largest NEB topic at €15 million; close 1 December 2026.