The resilience of neighbourhoods in the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: urban planning and public health approaches

Purpose The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted many aspects of city life. Within cities the incidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is heterogeneously distributed across districts. Passing a certain level of incidence leads to lockdown restrictions for cities and some specific to city districts. The restrictions have resulted in an increased importance of the neighbourhood. The structure of urban neighbourhoods as well as their environmental quality varies; some neighbourhoods may be in a better position to weather a pandemic. Urban planning instruments and strategies can improve neighbourhood spatial structure and environmental quality, and so increase resilience.

Methods The aims of this project are to identify neighbourhoods that are vulnerable because of conditions that promote virus spread as well as those that amplify the impact of lockdown restrictions and to examine the suitability of urban planning instruments and strategies to increase neighbourhood resilience. For a selection of German cities different types of neighbourhoods were examined to assess likely risks as well as the potential adaptability of urban structures.

Results Built environment and socio-economic as well as other health-related characteristics were selected based on a scientific literature review and the state of the art in planning practice. A set of criteria for these characteristics was developed which forms the basis of a stress test. Five case study neighbourhoods were assessed using the stress test to identify areas where urban development instruments and strategies should be implemented.

Conclusions: The next steps will be to assess the suitability of these instruments and strategies and a set of guidelines for urban planning and public health departments will be developed to support municipalities with increasing the resilience of their neighbourhoods.

Publication History

Article published online:
02 September 2021