Developing an analytical framework for liveable streets in Shanghai

This research explores how to understand the concept of ‘liveable streets’ in the context of Shanghai. It follows the Chinese State Council’s call (2015) for ungated communities and dense street networks, meant to improve liveability in cities. Factors of liveability have been extracted from the international and Chinese literature and refined through locally administered online questionnaires (n = 95) and semi-structured interviews (n = 12) with a sample of urban studies professionals. The outcome of this research is an analytical framework consisting of qualities, factors and indicators to assess and distinguish what constitutes a liveable street in Shanghai. A set of 28 indicators is proposed to facilitate the straightforward application of the framework in fast-growing urban settings. This research reveals the importance of contextualising liveability factors and their relevance in informing policy-making and the practice of urban design and planning in Chinese cities.