Will 20 minute neighbourhoods work in a rural and islands context?
The desired outcomes of 20 MNs - decreased health inequalities, improved local economy, climate action, improved liveability and ability to age well in place – are indisputably important for rural and island communities. With a small number of exceptions, the pathway to achieving these outcomes in rural and island communities is unlikely to be through applying the 20 MN method. Indeed, applying the 20 MN method is likely to centralise services and increase structural and institutional barriers to addressing poverty and inequality and, as a result, to addressing climate change. Roundtable practitioners concluded that instead of on trying to fit 20 MNs to a rural and island context, for example by re-framing them as 30 or 45 Minute Neighbourhoods, there is a need for a strong rural and island narrative on ‘living well locally’ which is recognised and resourced by those who set national and regional policy