An urban planning expert has criticised Brisbane’s urban sprawl and the over-reliance on cars.

Former Vancouver chief city planner Brent Toderian says Brisbane's planning is “average, maybe even below average in the context of Australian cities”.

“I would probably give Brisbane a rating of just four or five out of 10.

“[It] is resting on its laurels a bit.”

Mr Toderian is in Australia on behalf of the Heart Foundation, which wants to stimulate a change in the way cities are designed.

He said “a lot of the good things” came form decision now well in the past, like building busways and pedestrianising down town areas.

But he warned that urban sprawl is beginning to dominate, forcing people into their cars and away from the accidental exercise of walking.

“Sitting is one of the worst things you can do for your public health,” he said.

“By building sprawl, we are still building fundamentally sick environments.

“We have designed exercise out of our daily lives. Whereas we use to design both cities and suburbs in a way where exercise was a part of your daily life.”

Heart Foundation manager Sheree Hughes says good planning can boost “health by stealth”.

Mr Toderian will soon meet with Federal MPs in Canberra and present at an urban planning conference in Melbourne.