Operative methodology for the assessment of pedestrian accessibility to facilities for the 15-minute city neighbourhood-scale planning scenarios

The concept of the “15-Minute City” (FMC) has gained increasing attention in urban planning debates as a strategy to promote proximity-based, equitable and inclusive urban living. The FMC concept advocates for ensuring that urban functions are accessible within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. This study investigates how pedestrian accessibility to local facilities can be assessed and enhanced within the FMC framework, with a focus on neighbourhood-scale interventions. The paper develops a GIS-based methodology firstly, to analyse accessibility at the urban and then at the neighbourhood scale through the mapping of urban facilities and amenities, and pedestrian isochrones to obtain an accessibility score. The approach allows for scenario-based evaluations of accessibility and supports the planning of targeted urban regeneration actions. The methodology is tested in the pilot area of the San Leonardo neighbourhood of Parma, a medium-sized Italian city, demonstrating its potential to guide public administrations in identifying spatial inequalities and prioritising walkability improvements. By operationalising FMC principles at the neighbourhood scale, this research contributes to improve planning tools that foster equitable and sustainable mobility spaces.