Developing a community-informed definition of 15-minute neighbourhoods in Surrey, BC

A 15-minute neighbourhood is where most needs are located within a 15-minute walk, cycle, or public transit ride from one’s home.

The current car-centric design of neighbourhoods in Surrey perpetuates numerous social, health, and economic disparities. The 15-minute neighbourhood approach seeks to address these issues by ensuring that neighbourhoods are more walkable, inclusive, and socially, financially, and economically resilient.

Through these workshops, we aim to create a comprehensive understanding of what constitutes a 15-minute neighbourhood in the context of Surrey. To do this, we will engage residents to define and map specific amenities and services that they perceive as vital for improving their quality of life, promoting health, and mitigating social inequities.

The goal of these workshops is to generate a community-informed definition of 15-minute neighbourhoods, which would inform planners and decision-makers of the place-based needs of Surrey residents when developing urban planning strategies, land use policies, and neighbourhood improvement initiatives.

For further information or to express interest in participating in these workshops, please get in touch with the project team at rcities@sfu.ca