This report on quality of life in Europe's cities and towns reiterates these concerns but also unravels the many apparent paradoxes of urban development and the sometimes perplexing realities of urban Europe today. The report defines a vision for progress towards a more sustainable, well designed urban future, and in doing so inevitably raises many questions:

The simple answer to these apparent paradoxes is evident in the many concerns expressed by the vast majority of policy‑makers, professionals and civil society. They point out that the current urban model delivers higher living standards and prosperity but fails to deliver 'quality of life'. Unsurprisingly, the complex interaction between the many determinants of quality of life means that efforts to promote one element can have unexpected impacts elsewhere. However, understanding these apparent paradoxes is vital to realising the vision of a vibrant urban future in which economic, social and environmental aspirations can be delivered concurrently.

The notion of 'quality of life' normally implies broad and long term societal objectives and indicators, which can be at odds with the short term, sectoral targets that guide much policymaking. With that in mind, the prime aim of this report is to explore the many perceptions of quality of life in order to help define urban problems more clearly, identify options for remedial action and construct evaluations of effectiveness. All these areas are relevant to improving the governance of today's urban realities throughout Europe.

This report highlights the connections between the different dimensions of quality of life and analyzes the inherent causal relationships. These range from clear linkages such as the health benefits of green open space for urban populations to less evident relationships such as the way that individual choice of housing has environmental impacts that affect quality of life. In this way, the report addresses the sustainable design and development of Europe's cities, perceiving environmental quality as a fundamental building block of social well being and urban quality of life.

Realising the vision of a more sustainable urban future requires mobilising action and resources to reconstruct towns and cities. The aim should be to create new social, cultural and economic foundations that conserve the environmental underpinnings and so offer long term benefits for Europe's future generations.

With humility, our report is the result of the endeavours and expertise of many individuals collectively representing a number of pan European organisations and it attempts to cover the many issues inherent to urban complexity. Cities and towns are essentially bodies of coexistence; calls for a new urbanity may thus reflect a shared awareness that fragmented and short term policies are hindering urban areas from fulfilling that core function.

28/05/2009

research

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration

Quality of life