New research from Allison Homes finds that young adults in Britain are prioritising greater real-world community connection, highlighting the need for good placemaking when building new homes.
The study of 2,000 UK adults found 83% of 18–24-year-olds believe they would benefit either a great deal or somewhat from stronger connections with people living around them, while 80% of the same age group say they would feel happier living somewhere that encouraged more natural interaction between neighbours.
Across Britain as a whole, 79% say feeling part of a local community is important to their overall quality of life, while 58% believe they would benefit from stronger connections with people living nearby.
The findings form part of the Allison Homes Happiness Report, which explores the relationship between people’s homes, their neighbourhoods and their overall quality of life. The research also found that 65% of UK adults currently feel connected to the community where they live, while almost a third say they do not.
Iain McPherson, Chief Executive of Allison Homes, said: “There can sometimes be an assumption that younger generations are less interested in traditional ideas of neighbourhood and community, but these findings suggest quite the opposite.”
“For many young adults, having opportunities to connect naturally with the people living around them appears to be an important part of what makes somewhere a happy place to live.”
“That is an important consideration for those of us creating new communities. Building homes is only one part of the equation. The spaces between those homes, the routes people walk, the facilities they use, and the opportunities residents have to meet each other all contribute to how a place ultimately feels.”
“Building the homes to tackle the housing crisis should not be done at the expense of good placemaking. Good placemaking shouldn’t force people to socialise, but it can create the conditions in which everyday connections can happen naturally.”
Nationally, more than half of respondents (51%) said they would be happier living somewhere that encouraged greater natural interaction with the people around them, including 17% who said they would be much happier. Just 2% thought it would make them less happy.
Asked what they believe helps people feel connected to where they live, respondents pointed to local shops and cafés (50%), safe streets and lighting (41%), walkable streets (41%) and community events (35%).
Iain McPherson added: “The research reinforces the importance of thinking about a development as a neighbourhood from the outset – not simply a collection of individual homes.”
“If the next generation of homeowners and residents is telling us that community matters to their happiness, the housebuilding industry and those shaping planning policy should listen carefully.”
