The Effect of Pillars of Infrastructure on Wellbeing in Handsworth
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Description
This research explores the impact of key infrastructure pillars—housing; education; environmental factors; local economy; waste management—on the wellbeing of residents in Handsworth, Birmingham (United Kingdom) - achieved by looking at Handsworth individually and through comparison to Stirchley, another district in the city.
Handsworth is a historically diverse - densely populated - urban area with a rich cultural heritage but faces challenges in terms of infrastructure strain - particularly in housing and environmental resources. Stirchley on the other hand, has seen recent regeneration efforts with a slightly lower population density and different demographic trends - creating a contrasting urban landscape. Stirchley's infrastructure development, including its environmental sustainability measures, provides a meaningful comparison to highlight how different approaches to urban planning can affect wellbeing.
The comparison between these two areas is significant as it allows for the examination of how infrastructure quality and availability; within the context of suggestable variences; impact community health, socio-economic conditions, and overall quality of life. These findings aim to highlight the critical role that local infrastructure plays in shaping wellbeing in neighbourhoods and provides insights for future urban planning and policy development.
Methods (English)
The study utilised a mixed-methods approach. Using historical map analysis to track changes in greenspace over time; assessing whether greenspace was lost to development (buildings and streets) or added alongside new infrastructure as a means of mitigating potential negative side effects of such. Visual observations or areas were investigated and noted in person during daytime general work to lunch hours to count and evaluate various factors influencing infrastructure and wellbeing like environmental factors; ranging from the built environment - such as roads and buildings - as well as natural elements such as parks and greenspaces. More subjective observations - such as behavioural patterns - were correlated with objective observations derived from comparative analysis.
This research was informed by the insights of Centric Lab, conducted with supervision an academic specialising in Urban Planning with lifelong ties to Handsworth - Deborah Broomfield - and investigated by a poet and artist with a tangible interest in architecture and the built environment - Ruben Whitter - who relocated to the area less than five years prior to the completion date of the report; so this collaborative effort integrates academic rigour with lived experiences which provides a nuanced arts-based 'wellbeing-focused' perspective that enriches the findings.
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[FINAL] Sept 2024 - Ruben Whitter - The Effect of Pillars of Infastructure on Wellbeing in Handsworth.pdf
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(401.5 kB)
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