Overview
Active Design is an innovative set of planning and urban design guidelines prepared by David Lock Associates on behalf of Sport England. The guidance informs on how the design of places can encourage people to be physically active. Now on its third iteration, it includes updated best practice applications, case studies and accessibility improvements.
Project Highlights
Clients
Sport England
Active Travel England
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Date
2007 - 2023
Scale
National guidance
It’s hard to underestimate the benefits of Active Design. Creating places and spaces that both enable and entice us to move more in our everyday lives, benefits us in so many ways - from saving money on travel to giving children transport independence, both of which will create healthier communities which, in turn, reduce the strain on the NHS.
Chris Boardman MBE, Chair, Active Travel England & Sport England
The Project
Active Design is a set of planning and urban design guidelines, grounded in the fundamental concept of ‘Activity for All.’ It provides Ten Principles, encompassing three central themes: supporting active travel; creating and maintaining physical activity; and active, high-quality places and spaces. As part of Sport England’s 10-year ‘Uniting the Movement’ strategy, Creating Active Environments was identified as one of their five ‘Big Issues.’ Active Design provides practical guidance for those involved in delivering and managing places, offering clear advice on designing spaces that enable people to be physically active.
The Process
Our team has played a central role in the development of the guide since its first publication in 2007. The guidance was among the first documents that reviewed how the built environment can influence physical activity levels, and how the planning and design of places can affect our health.
Following the success of the first publication, we were commissioned again in 2014 to undertake a full review of Active Design, with a particular focus on improving use and dissemination. This led to a comprehensive redrafting and creation of the ‘Ten Principles of Active Design,’ with incorporated graphics, illustrative case studies and key actions, to practically set out how we can shape places to deliver active and healthy environments.
The latest edition of Active Design was launched in May 2023 by Chris Boardman, Chair of Sport England and Active Travel England, and Jeanelle de Gruchy, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, following an extensive literature review and comprehensive stakeholder engagement. With a focus on usability, we undertook a full branding and graphic refresh, ensuring the guidance was fully compliant with Web Compatibility Access Guidelines. It highlights how Active Design can support other agendas, such as environmental sustainability and reducing inequalities, while placing ‘Activity for All’ at the heart of its updated principles and themes.
Following the successful launch of the updated guidance, we were commissioned by OHID and Sport England to co-ordinate and present a series of nationwide workshops for local authorities, public health teams and active partnerships. The workshops sought to improve understanding in planning and design at a local level and demonstrate how healthier places can be created. Central to this was sharing our experience in strategic planning, design coding and delivery models, showcasing our work and explaining how it led to positive health outcomes.