National neighbourhood baseline survey

Kay Saville-Smith.

This report presents the findings of the national baseline survey of neighbourhood behaviours. The baseline data is used to drive the Resident Self-Report assessment component of Beacon’s Neighbourhood Sustainability Framework.

The national survey data suggests that high density areas show: greater problems with noise; less gardening; residents as less involved in providing for wildlife; less involvement in local, neighbourhood groups; and more use of public spaces. Ensuring that the problems of higher density are mitigated and the needs of people living in higher density environments are met is a challenge that will need to be addressed both at the neighbourhood level and at the dwelling level. The neighbourhood survey data also suggests that older people are over-represented in low density built environments.