Dr. Sarah Rock:

My colleagues may also wish to contribute on this. I am having Internet access issues today so I missed a bit of the Deputy's contribution. I can certainly respond to what I did hear.

On the question of housing and mixed-used development, there are a number of considerations. When one is near a well-located area, such as a crossroads or an urban centre, it is really critical to have mixed use. The ground floor use should bring a sort of vitality to an area. One cannot have empty ground floor units everywhere and they can only work in the right locations. What is also critical for that is maximising accessibility to those areas via walking. That local accessibility via walking is absolutely critical in ensuring that sort of life and vitality exists in an area that can make that sort of mixed use more viable.

On the retrofitting of older and more established areas, the walking element is again relevant. Our rush tends to be towards other modes of transport but the most important intervention we can have in existing areas is making the streets more comfortable and safer for those travelling on foot. Once we get that right, we can start to work on the other forms of transport. That is the critical element that is the essence of contributing to a healthy, active and livable neighbourhood.

Some of my colleagues may have additional points.