Future Tense Are we turning the housing crisis into a living crisis?
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Oct 9, 2025 Dr. Annette Kroen, a Senior Research Fellow specializing in urban challenges, teams up with Dylan Reid, an urbanist and co-founder of Spacing Magazine. They unpack the critical shortage of amenities in new suburbs, highlighting the risk of social isolation. Reid critiques the disconnected design of residential areas that lack main streets, weakening community ties. The duo emphasizes the need for walkable neighborhoods and accessible services to create livable environments, making a case for smart density that protects green space while enhancing urban resilience.
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Third Spaces Are Vital For Connection
- 'Third spaces' and incidental 'bumping spaces' both matter for social cohesion in new suburbs.
- Footpaths and parks alone fail to create connection if destinations and active uses are missing.
Local Shops Shape Daily Life
- Local shops, playgrounds and community centres strongly influence everyday behaviour and social life in new suburbs.
- Having a supermarket nearby turns occasional trips into quick walks for forgotten items and reduces car dependence.
Place-Based Ties Reduce Isolation
- Lack of place-based social connections leads to isolation and poor mental health, which carries societal costs.
- Digital connections don't fully replace the simple, local familiarity residents seek with neighbours.