Introduction

The role of urban, built environment factors in shaping healthy ageing trajectories is a burgeoning area of research, policy, and practice interest. Very broadly,
urban areas are those with high population or building density and the term
“built environment” describes buildings, including residential and commercial
properties, spaces between and surrounding buildings, as well as infrastructure,
such as transportation, that supports the activities and behaviours of people
who interact with the environment (Giles-Corti et al., 2016). Viewed within the
“Healthy Ageing” paradigm (World Health Organization [WHO], 2018), the
spatial layout and design qualities of urban areas shape the conditions of daily
life and act as enablers or inhibitors of human activities and behaviours that
alternately promote or limit functioning, health, and quality of life for urban
dwellers. Consequently, how well we plan, design, and construct our homes,
recreational spaces, and transportation systems has significant implications for
people’s capacity to develop and maintain the functional ability that enables
well-being into old age...