The Challenges of Social Infrastructure for Urban Planning

Abstract

This editorial addresses social infrastructure in relation to urban planning and localisation, drawing together the themes in this thematic issue on “Localizing Social Infrastructures: Welfare, Equity, and Community.” Having contextualised social infrastructure, we present each of the 12 contributions by theme: (a) the social consequences of the localisation of social infrastructure for individuals, (b) the preconditions for localising social infrastructure in the urban landscape, and (c) the social consequences for the long-term social sustainability of the wider community. We conclude with the openings for future research, such as the need to continue researching localisation (for example, the ways localisations of social infrastructure support, maintain, or hinder inclusion and community-building, and which benefits would come out of using localisation as a strategic planning tool); second, funding (the funding of non-commercial social infrastructure and who would take on the responsibility); and third, situated knowledge (the knowledge needed by planners, architects, social service officials, decision makers, and the like to address and safeguard the importance of social infrastructure in urban development and regeneration processes).

Construction of a Spatial Equalization Assessment System for Medical Facilities

“…Medical facilities are a form of integration between public health and the planning of urban public service facilities [1]. They play an important role in cities, in terms of public safety, residents' health, and social services [2,3]. The service efficiency and fairness of public health spaces can be improved by enhancing the role of medical facilities' spatial equilibrium [4].…”

Social values and social infrastructures: a multi-perspective approach to place

“…In rural villages, the number of amenities that can accommodate social processes are often few, making them especially vulnerable to planning interventions (Björling 2016). Therefore, it is crucial to develop tools that can identify and help safeguard the social value of places (Högström et al 2022). Non-urban areas often lack typical cultural institutions such as museums and theatres.…”