Design Council has
launched their Healthy Placemaking research, which closely examines the
public, and economic benefits of healthy placemaking across the UK.
The environments
where we live and work have a major impact on our health, yet we continue to
design and build unhealthy places.
As the government
strives to meet its target of 300,000 homes a year and respond to the growing
demand for public services, particularly in health and social care, there has
never been a more important time to actively encourage the design of healthy
places.
This
latest research from Design Council and Social Change UK notes that healthy
placemaking sits on the periphery of UK housing, public health and placemaking
policy. It continues to be seen as a cost to local development rather than an
investment, and when considered alongside the plethora of local planning
priorities and frameworks it often gets overlooked.
Investment
in the future of our towns, cities and villages must have a focus on healthy
places to deliver sustainable communities that boost local economic growth and
improve people’s lives through reducing preventable disease.
“With
ever-increasing pressures on the NHS to fight preventable health issues such as
obesity, heart disease, and diabetes, we need to consider new ways to fight
this growing health epidemic," said Design Council
CEO, Sarah Weir OBE.
"As a recognised leader within the
architecture and built environment sector, we want to fully understand what
stops those who design and build the places that we live and work in making us
healthier and happier. Our latest research makes clear that, despite the
evidence, healthy placemaking is often side-lined and seen as a cost. This has
to change if we are to tackle the high levels of physical inactivity that is
costing the country an estimated £7.4 billion each year.”
Social
Change UK, the organisation that carried out the research, believes some of our
toughest societal issues can be solved by healthy placemaking. Kelly Hunstone,
Chief Executive said: “After years of working on the ground within local
communities we believe a lot of health and social issues can be solved by
designing healthier neighbourhoods.
"People want to live in comfortable,
breathable homes that make them feel safe and secure. They want access to green
spaces and cycle paths and the kind of environment that promotes a healthy
lifestyle and happier life. This should be the right of everyone – and not the
few – and I urge our decision makers – our politicians, our planners and anyone
involved in the design and construction of our villages, towns and cities to
put healthy placemaking top of the agenda."
Design Councils
recommendations for developing healthy places are:
- Physical activity: to
increase walkability in buildings and neighbourhoods and encourage healthy
modes of transport
- Healthy
food: to improve access to healthier foods
- Social
contact: to design well-connected housing and neighbourhoods that provide
access to facilities and amenities to reduce social isolation and
loneliness
- Contact
with nature: to provide access to the natural environment, including parks
- Pollution:
reducing exposure to air and noise pollution
