Neighbourhood Social Sustainability, Urban Renewal and Health Inequalities

Social sustainability has been less studied than its counterparts, economic and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, social sustainability has not been often discussed within the discipline of public health and let alone, there has been very little discussion about the potential impact of neighbourhood social sustainability on health related outcomes as well as health inequities. This perspective paper attempts to fill that gap by igniting a discussion on how neighbourhood social sustainability can affect health equity in the context of health promotion and sustainable development. Neighbourhood social sustainability through urban renewal can contribute to the reduction of inequalities in health only if the process takes into account the health and wellbeing of the most disadvantaged groups. In addition, it is important that public health researchers become part of the discussions on how neighbourhood social sustainability can contribute to population health equity.