Can proximity forge strong bonds? Exploring the relationship between urban proximity and social cohesion at the neighbourhood level

• Social cohesion is negatively associated with distance to daily destinations. • This negative association is mediated by individuals’ perceptions of proximity. • Perceived distance amplifies the effect of destination proximity on social cohesion. • Planning focussed on local access to services and amenities is key to social cohesion. • More research is needed on how perceptions of distance to destinations form. Urban proximity has recently regained prominence in urban and transport planning. While the environmental and health benefits of increased proximity are well documented, its social implications, particularly in relation to social cohesion, remain under-researched. This is important because social cohesion is often associated with increased community resilience and societal stability. While previous research has examined how features of the built environment affect social cohesion, few studies have isolated the impact of proximity to daily destinations. We address this gap by integrating objective and subjective measures of proximity to daily destinations and assessing their impact on neighbourhood social cohesion. Using survey data on social cohesion and perceived proximity, together with georeferenced data on destination distances in five Spanish cities, we apply an SEM approach to analyse the relationship. The results indicate a negative relationship between distance to destinations and social cohesion, mediated by perceptions of proximity. This means that the impact of distances to destinations over social cohesion is stronger when destinations are perceived to be closer or further than they actually are. Urban planners and policymakers should consider objective and subjective measures of proximity and focus on equitable access to essential services to promote community cohesion.