Ugly buildings and shabby surroundings are fuelling an epidemic of loneliness, according to a report by the Centre for Social Justice.
The independent think-tank that studies the root causes of Britain’s social problems says there is a clear link between poor building design and a lack of community spirit, leading to social isolation.
It says the government should stop creating ugly developments that leave people feeling dejected, otherwise it will “build its way into the social problems of the future”.
• Labour plans new towns with Edwardian mansion blocks and tree-lined streets
Half of the adults it surveyed said that architects and planners were out of touch with what local people wanted. Two fifths did not agree that buildings were designed to encourage community spirit. Three fifths of those with access to green spaces said they never felt lonely. More than 2,000 people took part in the poll by Whitestone Insight and the results were weighted to be representative of all UK adults.
The CSJ says that future developments that reflect local definitions of beauty should be prioritised. It argues that poor infrastructure leaves people unable to create meaningful connections and friendships, worsening feelings of alienation. The report comes after Labour’s announcement in the budget of a £5 billion package to build 1.5 million new homes. The centre-right think tank says it is vital that loneliness is addressed in any new house-building programme because “loneliness is a public health emergency” with its effects comparable to smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. The CSJ argues that poor infrastructure leaves people unable to create meaningful connections and friendships GETTY IMAGES It claims that nearly six in ten adults feel lonely at least some of the time, equating to roughly 32 million people, and that the most economically deprived are often pushed to live in degraded environments. Many people do not know most of their neighbours and nearly two thirds say it has become harder to make new friends in recent years, it adds. Josh Nicholson, senior researcher at the CSJ, said: “The government needs to ask itself: what legacy do we want to leave behind? The country urgently needs more homes, but this should not mean cutting corners, degrading the built environment or concreting over green community space. • We must build for people, not cars “Development is not just an economic issue but involves the creation of happy, connected and stable communities. Architects and planners must avoid the mistakes of the past by prioritising beauty, design and green space in the built environment.” In a foreword to the report Margaret Mullane, the Labour MP, and Nicholas Boys Smith, director of the urban planning think tank Create Streets, said: “The reimagining of placemaking with infrastructure and a sense of ‘the good society’ at its core must take centre stage. Otherwise, we risk building our way into the social problems of the future.” The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We know well-designed homes and public spaces are important for individual wellness and promoting social interaction in communities. That’s why we will further develop design codes to ensure we build more homes and places that are high quality, well designed, and sustainable.”