WALKABLE “10-minute neighbourhoods” where elderly Islanders can easily access essential services on foot could be introduced in Jersey, if plans lodged by a St Helier politician are approved.
A proposition lodged this week by Deputy Inna Gardiner aims to reshape Jersey’s public spaces to meet the needs of an ageing population.
The politician pointed to projections showing the Island’s over-75 population will grow by around 50% in the next 20–30 years, warning that by 2040 there could be twice as many people living into their 80s.
Central to her proposal is the creation of an Age-Friendly Infrastructure Framework, to be implemented by January 2026.
This would include “10-minute neighbourhoods” and accessible public toilet facilities.
The concept of a 10-minute neighbourhood is to ensure older adults can reach essential services – like GPs, pharmacies, groceries, parks, and community centres – within a 10-minute walk.
This walkable design is intended to reduce car dependency, encourage healthier lifestyles, and foster social connection.
If approved, Deputy Gardiner’s proposition would also mandate the inclusion of accessible public toilets and rest areas every 300–500 metres in town, parish centres, and parks.
These facilities would include shaded seating and be supported by clear signage.
Deputy Gardiner said: “Access to safe, clean, and well-distributed public toilets is fundamental to building an age-friendly, inclusive, and accessible public realm.”
She added: “Age-inclusive design also benefits other Islanders: parents with pushchairs, people with disabilities, and tourists all benefit from step-free access, resting places, and safer crossings.”
If approve, a designated Minister or Assistant Minister would be responsible for delivering the strategy and ensuring coordination across departments.
“It seems unconscionable that no single individual has political oversight for this area to effectively ‘join the dots’ between all departments,” said Deputy Gardiner.
She added that the proposed initiative draws on global best practices – including the WHO’s Age-Friendly Cities model and Paris’s “15-minute city” concept – and aims to provide long-term social and economic benefits by promoting independence, reducing health care costs, and creating a more inclusive public realm.
Deputy Gardiner concluded: “Simple interventions in the built environment can prevent expensive and often avoidable consequences, such as hospital admissions or early entry into long-term care.”
