NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES CENTRE AS A TOOL FOR ENHANCING TERRITORIAL COHESION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

Back to Page Authors: Lukasz Damurski

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Keywords: neighbourhood, services centre, territorial cohesion, urban planning

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Abstract: Territorial cohesion, despite its initial ambiguity, has been successfully implemented in national and regional policies across the EU. However, its operationalisation on the local level remains a big challenge. This paper seeks an answer to the question whether neighbourhood services centre can serve as a mean for enhancing territorial cohesion of urban areas. An interdisciplinary research programme was conducted in 2016-2019 in 5 neighbourhoods in Poland representing various settlement contexts: large cities, medium-sized towns and suburban areas. It investigated users’ needs, preferences and behaviours; it measured and evaluated local public spaces; it analysed mobility and accessibility patterns; it described local policy practices and planning cultures. A synthesis of the results is followed by a list of recommendations for urban planning. Eventually a model of a neighbourhood service centre is introduced and its contribution to the concept of territorial cohesion is discussed.

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