Six steps out of lockdown to a better quality of life

Originally published by Estates Gazette, 27 May 2020

by Sadie Morgan

I set up the Quality of Life Foundation to make wellbeing central to the way we create and care for our homes and communities. The coronavirus lockdown has shown us all how important where we live is in determining our quality of life — from how much space we have to what shops and services we can access within a short walk or drive from our home. Those of us in the business of designing and developing buildings and neighbourhoods should now be thinking about how we can improve it in the longer term. If we start asking the right questions now, then who knows, perhaps we can make something good come out of this.

Give people greater control

We need to give people a greater sense of control over their environment. People’s agency has diminished as people’s freedoms have been curtailed during the lockdown, but the creation of spontaneous mutual aid and community groups has meant that people can and will take control when they are able. We need to help build on these newly revitalised networks to listen to what local people want and need from new developments in their area. Let’s get them involved earlier through local plans, meaningful consultation on developments and the widespread digitisation of the planning process — one of the positives to have come out of the lockdown.