Cork City is planning for the future with a simple idea: make it easy for people to live, work and thrive in their own neighbourhoods.
Inspired by the “15-Minute City” concept – where everything from shops to schools is within a short walk or bike ride – Cork City’s Development Plan (2022–2028) puts health and wellbeing at the heart of urban planning.
To help make sure its plans for the future benefit everyone, especially older people, young people and those on low incomes, a “Health Impact Assessment” (HIA; part of the Health Impact Assessment Implementation Model (HIA-IM) project funded by the Health Research Board) was carried out to examine how the city’s plans might affect people’s health.
The assessment focused on the plan’s goal of creating safe and cohesive communities and examined its effects on three key groups: older people, young people, and people on low incomes. The findings were clear: when done right, urban planning can greatly enhance people’s health by improving housing, public space, transport, walkability and access to work.
Why is this important?
Research shows that only about 20% of health outcomes are determined by healthcare. The rest depends on where and how we live.
Poor housing, unsafe streets and long commutes can harm both mental and physical health. In contrast, green spaces, clean air, local services and inclusive public areas can reduce stress, support physical activity and improve community wellbeing.
Public health research consistently demonstrates that health is shaped far more by the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age than by access to healthcare alone.
Factors like income, housing, education and employment – known as the “social determinants of health” – strongly influence wellbeing. Structural inequalities, including racism and economic exclusion, further shape health disparities by limiting access to opportunity.
These systemic issues affect who gets to live in safe neighbourhoods or access quality services. Recognising this, modern public health strategies, such as Health Impact Assessments and “Health in All Policies,” work across sectors to address the root causes of poor health and promote fairness. In doing so, public health moves from treating illness to preventing it at its roots.
Cork’s HIA revealed the potential for real health benefits through compact, liveable urban design.
People living in walkable neighbourhoods are more likely to exercise, and (as shown in GAP’s research paper on this topic) easy access to green spaces improves mental health, immune function and social connection.
However, the HIA also showed that meaningful community engagement is essential. When communities – especially those often overlooked – are involved in planning, the resulting policies are more effective, inclusive and fair.
Building a Healthy Ireland
The HIA on the Cork Development Plan marks a first step, but more are planned. In 2025, a second HIA will assess the health impacts of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, particularly its goals for organic farming.
The hope is to embed HIAs into future policy development across sectors, helping Ireland meet its Healthy Ireland 2025 goals and address widening health inequalities.
Cork is leading by example as a designated WHO Healthy City. By putting health at the centre of city planning, it is showing how places can be designed to support wellbeing, especially in times of growing environmental and social challenges.
HIAs like this one are helping to “health-proof” decision-making, ensuring that cities are not just built for convenience or efficiency, but for the people who live in them.
To learn more about the HIA-IM project and access the full Cork City HIA report, visit the HIA-IM project page.
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