Is the garden village an age-friendly planning model? Experiences of growing older in Rhiwbina Garden Village, Wales

Abstract

Society is ageing. There is a pressing need for planning and policy to help create, maintain and manage age-friendly environments This article explores the potential of the garden village concept as model for a more age-friendly future. We examine the age-friendly and garden village conceptual models and use a mixed-methods approach to explore the demographically ageing case study of Rhiwbina Garden Village, a northern suburb of Cardiff, Wales. We found that several age-friendly characteristics aligned with the garden village concept, including the importance of green space, access to public transport and the accessibility and frequency of community activities. Furthermore, place-based self-sufficiency, an outcome attribute of garden villages, is a crucial factor for ageing well. The age-friendly benefits of garden villages can inform future planning considerations to communities of all shapes and sizes.