Equity in the 20-Minute Neighbourhood: Residents’ Perception in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh

Urban inequity continues to intensify globally, despite proximity-based planning models such as the 20-minute neighbourhood being promoted as pathways towards more equitable and inclusive urban environments. However, limited attention has been paid to how justice and equity are defined and experienced by residents, particularly in disadvantaged areas where these policies are implemented. Addressing this gap, this study examines how residents in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh – an underserved neighbourhood and a designated 20-minute neighbourhood site – define a just neighbourhood, their experiences of injustice, and their priorities for advancing equity, and explores how these lived realities challenge the model’s equity ambitions. Using a qualitative case study design, focus group discussions with residents (n = 12) were analysed thematically using NVivo software. Residents defined justice not simply as proximity to services, but in relation to affordable housing, equitable access to quality services and employment, recognition of diverse needs, safe social environments, and meaningful participation in planning. The findings highlight a critical limitation of proximity-based planning: proximity alone cannot deliver justice without addressing broader structural inequalities and ensuring recognitional and procedural justice. By foregrounding residents’ perspectives, this study provides important insights for policymakers seeking to implement proximity-based neighbourhood strategies in more just and inclusive ways.