Australia is facing a deepening social crisis, with recent findings revealing that approximately 15 per cent of the population suffers from loneliness and social isolation.
The issue is not just a significant public health risk but also an economic one. Further analysis by the Grattan Institute has also found mental health conditions linked to poor social connection and belonging are costing the Australian economy billions each year through lost productivity and healthcare impacts.
Urban planning experts from global services firm Hatch, Angela Koepp and Leigh Holford, argue that neighbourhood design is a major, yet often overlooked, contributor to this crisis.
They contend that while the current national focus remains heavily on housing supply, there is an urgent need to pivot toward healthy neighbourhoods or communities designed to prioritise connection, inclusion, and walkability.
According to Koepp and Holford, poorly designed, car-dependent suburbs are inadvertently fuelling isolation by limiting spontaneous social contact.
To combat this, they advocate for a place-led approach that moves away from generic density targets.
Hatch has pioneered a ‘Great Places Process,’ a six-stage blueprint that begins with deep community engagement. By surveying residents and hosting focus groups, the firm seeks to understand the emotional and cultural fabric of a location before any design work commences.
The resulting blueprints prioritise social infrastructure, such as parks, playgrounds, community centres, and accessible transport. over simple building density.
By creating vibrant, people-centred spaces, designers can foster intergenerational connection and informal support systems.
“We’re seeing a growing body of data showing that loneliness is linked to poor health behaviours and premature death,” said Holford, economics principal at Hatch.
“What’s needed is a rethink of how we design for social, cultural and physical wellbeing—and that means putting people, not just buildings, at the centre.”
Hatch has already implemented the Great Places Process in major urban planning projects across the country, including the award-winning Jindee Innovation Project in Western Australia – a walkable coastal village with form-based code and mixed housing delivering strong sustainability outcomes.
