Purpose The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has impacted many aspects of city life. Within cities the
incidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2 is heterogeneously distributed across districts.
Passing a certain level of incidence leads to lockdown restrictions for cities and
some specific to city districts. The restrictions have resulted in an increased importance
of the neighbourhood. The structure of urban neighbourhoods as well as their environmental
quality varies; some neighbourhoods may be in a better position to weather a pandemic.
Urban planning instruments and strategies can improve neighbourhood spatial structure
and environmental quality, and so increase resilience.
Methods The aims of this project are to identify neighbourhoods that are vulnerable because
of conditions that promote virus spread as well as those that amplify the impact of
lockdown restrictions and to examine the suitability of urban planning instruments
and strategies to increase neighbourhood resilience. For a selection of German cities
different types of neighbourhoods were examined to assess likely risks as well as
the potential adaptability of urban structures.
Results Built environment and socio-economic as well as other health-related characteristics
were selected based on a scientific literature review and the state of the art in
planning practice. A set of criteria for these characteristics was developed which
forms the basis of a stress test. Five case study neighbourhoods were assessed using
the stress test to identify areas where urban development instruments and strategies
should be implemented.
Conclusions: The next steps will be to assess the suitability of these instruments and strategies
and a set of guidelines for urban planning and public health departments will be developed
to support municipalities with increasing the resilience of their neighbourhoods.
