In October the Healthy Cities team piloted the economic analysis capabilities of the Healthy Cities Generator tool across two municipalities in Portugal. Developed during an EIT Urban Mobility project, the latest iteration of the Healthy Cities Generator tool helps quantify the health and economic benefits of urban planning. The team collaborated with municipal planners from Lisbon and Cascais to test the tool in real-world scenarios, highlighting how better city design can improve public health and reduce costs.
Why Healthy Cities Matter
The design of urban spaces has a direct impact on health. Well-planned cities—with bike lanes, reliable public transport, and green spaces—encourage walking, socialising, and reduce stress. Cleaner air leads to better heart and lung health, while parks and natural spaces improve mental well-being.
While these benefits are a clear call to action, the Healthy Cities Generator goes further by showing how healthier environments can also save cities money. The tool calculates potential savings in healthcare costs, lost productivity, and more, creating a powerful argument for urban improvements.
Lisbon: Testing in Santo Antonio Valley
In Lisbon, the team tested the tool in the underdeveloped Santo Antonio valley, a central area of the city undergoing complete transformation. The project focused on increasing housing, developing a new urban park, improving neighbourhood facilities, and enhancing transport with mobility hubs. The 15-minute city concept was central to the planning, aiming to create a neighbourhood where residents can access key services within a short walk.
The tool revealed that although the area has green spaces, they are underutilised and lack diversity. By adding more varied parks and improving connections to housing and transport, the health of the local population could be significantly boosted, particularly in terms of mental well-being. Lisbon’s urban planners are harnessing the tool’s value in communicating these benefits to both residents and government officials.
Cascais: Neighbourhood Pilot
In Cascais, the pilot focused on a smaller neighbourhood of around 20,000 residents, many of them elderly. The plan included reducing street parking by building a multifunctional car park with a green roof, pacifying the high street to improve pedestrian access, and creating a new neighbourhood park.
The Healthy Cities Generator highlighted how reducing traffic, increasing green spaces, and promoting active mobility would directly benefit the health of the community. The tool also showed that within two years, the investment could be offset by savings in healthcare costs, making the project economically viable. Planners from Cascais recognised the tool’s potential for quickly integrating health considerations into future urban projects.
What’s Next?
After the successful pilot phase, the new Healthy Cities Generator tool will be launched publicly, allowing cities worldwide to benefit from its capabilities. To support the launch, the team will host an open webinar on October 30 to introduce the tool to urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders, providing them with an opportunity to explore its features and potential for improving urban health.
The Healthy Cities team continues to work towards healthier, more sustainable cities for all.
