Place and Wellbeing Outcomes

products

The Place and Wellbeing Outcomes provide a consistent and comprehensive focus for where place impacts on the wellbeing of people and planet.

The Place and Wellbeing Outcomes set out the things we know we need to get right about a place for people and planet to thrive. They are also key features for delivering Scotland’s local living and 20-minute neighbourhood ambition. There are thirteen Place and Wellbeing Outcomes, organised by five themes – Movement, Spaces, Resources, Civic, and Stewardship.

Their development has been supported by the organisations that sit on the Place and Wellbeing Collaborative. More background information and context to the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes can be found in this briefing paper and in this introductory video. You can find the core set of data and the indicators linked to them in this spreadsheet.

Place and wellbeing outcomes: movement, space, resources, civic, stewardship

The Place and Wellbeing Outcomes are:

Movement – active travel; public transport; traffic and parking
Spaces – streets and spaces; natural spaces; play and recreation
Resources – services and support; work and economy; housing and community
Civic – identity and belonging; feeling safe
Stewardship – care and maintenance; influence and control

Why should the Outcomes be part of the decision-making process?

Evidence shows that the places where we live, work and relax have an impact on our wellbeing, on the wellbeing of our planet and on how much inequality exists between the richest and poorest in society. This impact can be positive, such as reducing poverty and carbon emissions and improving health. But it can also be negative, making our wellbeing and planetary health worse. This is why place is important.

Given the importance of place, it is crucial that we create ones that contain all the features that evidence tells us will have a positive impact. At times decision makers do not consider the unintended consequences of their activity and can inadvertently have a negative impact on the features we need to get right in every place.

The way to prevent this unintended impact is to take a place-based approach. This means combining three key elements:

1 Knowing what people in an area are experiencing

2. Understanding the evidenced features every place needs

3. Considering the impact of the decisions we are making on both

People, place and decision-making are the key elements to take a place-based approach.

This short video discusses how the Place Standard tool and the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes can be used together so to ensure that all three key elements of a place-based approach are met.

The differences between the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes and the Place Standard tool

The work of the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme is anchored in bringing the delivery of these outcomes into decision-making. To find out more about the Shaping Places for Wellbeing Programme, read their FAQs.

The Place and Wellbeing Outcomes are the evidenced features of what every place needs to enable those who live, work, and relax there to experience wellbeing.

All outcomes are underpinned by three principles:

Equitable outcomes for all

Each outcome takes account of the needs of different populations and geographies and is applied in a way that ensures they achieve equitable outcomes for all. The impact of policy and practice on the experiences of these different populations within Scotland must be considered. Population groups such as those at the end of the table.

Achieving net zero, sustainability and biodiversity

Each outcome takes account of climate impacts in Scotland and globally and the need to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As well as enhance broader environmental sustainability and biodiversity and are applied equitably in a way that contributes to both greater climate resilience and reduced GHG emissions.

Supporting the system

Each outcome becomes embedded in the right policies and plans both nationally and locally.

Themes and Outcomes

Theme	Outcome
Movement	Active Travel Everyone can: easily move around using good-quality, accessible, well-maintained and safe wheeling, segregated walking and cycling routes and access secure bike parking. wheel, walk and cycle through routes that connect homes, destinations and public transport, are segregated from, and prioritised above, motorised traffic and are part of a local green network.
	Public Transport Everyone has access to a sustainable, affordable, accessible, available, appropriate, safe, and public transport service.
	Traffic and Parking Everyone can benefit from: reducing traffic and traffic speeds in the community. traffic management and design, where traffic and car parking do not dominate or prevent other uses of space and car parking is prioritised for those who don’t have other options.
Spaces	Streets and Spaces Everyone has access to: buildings, streets and public spaces that create an attractive place to use, enjoy and interact with others. streets and spaces that are well-connected, designed for climate resilience and maintained, providing multiple functions and amenities to meet the varying needs of different population groups.
	Natural Spaces Everyone can: access good-quality natural spaces that support biodiversity and are well-connected, safe, maintained, designed for climate resilience and provide multiple functions and amenities to meet the varying needs of different population groups. be protected from environmental hazards including air/water/soil pollution or the risk of flooding. access community food growing opportunities and prime quality agricultural land is protected.
	Play and Recreation Everyone can access a range of high quality, safe, well-maintained, accessible places with opportunities for play and recreation to meet the varying needs of different population groups and the community itself.
Resources	Services and Support Everyone has access to: health enhancing, accessible, affordable and well-maintained services, facilities and amenities. These are informed by community engagement, responsive to the needs and priorities of all local people. a range of spaces and opportunities for communities to meet indoors and outdoors. information and resources necessary for an included life in a range of digital and non-digital formats.
	Work and Economy Everyone benefits equally from a local economy that provides: essential goods and services produced or procured locally. good quality paid and unpaid work. access to assets such as wealth and capital and the resources that enable people to participate in the economy such as good health and education. a balanced value ascribed across sectors such as female dominated sectors and the non-monetary economy.
	Housing and Community Everyone has access to: a home that is affordable, energy efficient, high quality, and provides access to private outdoor space. a variety of housing types, sizes and tenancies to meet the needs of the community. And of a sufficient density to sustain existing or future local facilities, services and amenities. a home that is designed and built to meet need and demand, is adaptable to changing needs and includes accessible/wheelchair standard housing. new homes that are located and designed to provide high levels of climate resilience and use sustainable materials and construction methods. homes that are designed to promote community cohesion.
Civic	Identity and Belonging Everyone can benefit from a place that has a positive identity, culture and history, where people feel like they belong and are able to participate and interact positively with others.
	Feeling Safe Everyone feels safe and secure in their own home and their local community taking account of the experience of different population groups.
Stewardship	Care and Maintenance Everyone has access to: buildings, spaces and routes that are well cared for in a way that is responsive to the needs and priorities of local communities. good facilities for recycling and well organised refuse storage and collection.
	Influence and Control Everyone is empowered to be involved a place in which: local outcomes are improved by effective collaborations between communities, community organisations and public bodies. decision making processes are designed to involve communities as equal partners. community organisations co-produce local solutions to issues. communities have increased influence over decisions. democratic processes are developed to be accessible to all citizens.

Each outcome takes account of the needs of different population groups such as the following:

Older people, children and young people
Women, men (including trans men and women and issues relating to pregnancy and maternity)
Disabled people (including physical disability, learning disability, sensory impairment, cognitive impairment, long term medical conditions, mental health problems)
Minority ethnic people (including Gypsy/Travellers, non-English speakers)
Refugees & asylum seekers
People with different religions or beliefs
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and heterosexual people
People who are unmarried, married or in a civil partnership
People living in poverty/ people of low income
Homeless people
People involved in the criminal justice system
People with low literacy/numeracy
People in remote, rural and/or island locations
Carers (including parents, especially lone parents; and elderly carers)
Staff (including people with different work patterns e.g. part/full time, short term, job share, seasonal)

Want to find out more? Get in touch

If you are looking to take a place-based approach, or if you want to know more about the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes, please get in touch at PlaceandWellbeing@improvementservice.org.uk, or follow us on X @PlaceNetworkSco to keep up to date with all of our latest news.

Blog: Plotting the differences between the Place Standard Tool and the Place and Wellbeing Outcomes

Eilidh Mackintosh, Planning Project Officer at the IS, and Sam Whitmore from Public Health Scotland take a closer look at two key tools for creating better places.