Spatial accessibility and temporal availability of local activity centres in Wrocław as a prerequisite of neighbourhood cohesion

The paper refers to the concept of neighbourhood cohesion taking a spatial and functional perspective. It examines the accessibility and availability of Local Activity Centres (LAC) – facilities that have been developed in Wrocław (Poland) in the recent years. Based on the literature review results, tailored definitions of spatial accessibility and temporal availability have been developed, followed by particular methodological solutions. Then a city-wide analysis of 21 LACs has been presented, including their distribution, structure and connections with housing, greenery areas, and public transport facilities. The findings lead to specific conclusions about the characteristics of Local Activity Centres and their role in shaping the neighbourhood cohesion. In particular, they show that most of the LACs are focal points in the structure of the neighbourhoods they serve, and that proximity is the key condition for shaping cohesion at the local level.