20 Minute Neighbourhoods
A 20 minute neighbourhood is an attractive, safe, walkable place where people of all ages and abilities can access the vast majority of the facilities and services they need daily within a walk of around 20 minutes.
20 minute neighbourhoods can help to reduce car use, encourage physical activity and help to support local businesses. However, they are not simply about accessing shops and public services.
They are places that help to build a sense of community and social capital and create a positive identity for a place and the people who live there.
Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods: Scottish Guidance
The Scottish Government published official planning guidance on Local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods on April 2024 to assist planning authorities, communities, businesses and others to deliver local living.
The official planning guidance includes the Local Living Framework, key considerations, and useful case study examples to support implementation of local living, ensuring that daily needs can be met appropriately in a place. It is designed to complement tools and resources already available for placemaking and design, including the Place Standard Tool.
