Ageing, Age Neighbourhoods and Urban Restructuring

Ageing has become one of the hallmarks of the ‘urban age’ with significant research, policy development and programmes supporting age friendly cities and broadly enabling older people to live in their homes longer. This paper draws on the preliminary results of a Newton/ESRC funded research project on physical activity, health and ageing in Belfast (UK) and Curitiba (Brazil). The paper focuses on a critique of the concept of age friendly cities, especially in the context of urban restructuring, a preference for neoliberal policies and planning strategies based on youth cultures and lifestyles. The analysis identifies age neighbourhoods to better understand socio-demographic and spatial change and how many older people are being pushed to more marginal suburban places where assets and connectivity, especially for walking are weak. The paper concludes by highlighting the implications for urban management, land use planning and community mobilisation.