New report sets out how to make the UK’s high streets healthier places

We welcome today’s report published by The Royal Society for Public Health, which sets out a roadmap to make the UK’s high streets better for our health and wellbeing.

Ansaf Azhar, ADPH Policy Co-Lead for Healthy Places said:

“The places where we live and work play a crucial role in determining our health, and it is important that they are designed so that people have access to the basic building blocks of health. For example, to be able to live a healthy life, we all need access to a healthy diet, open spaces, accessible transport and affordable leisure options, as well as opportunities to connect with our communities.

“Only by creating environments where everyone, regardless of where they live or how much money they have, can access these things, can we address the current unacceptable difference in health outcomes that people from different backgrounds face, and promote long-term initiatives to help people to live healthier lives for longer.

“DsPH and their teams play a vital role in achieving this, and it is important that they are able to work closely with everyone involved in the planning process to ensure that the implications for people’s health are considered in local planning decisions. We also need to see strong national support for local authorities to be able use the powers that are available to them. For example, the recommendation in the National Planning Policy Framework that local planning authorities should refuse applications for fast food outlets within walking distance of schools is a clear message from the Government that empowers local areas to act.

“Today’s report gathers together ideas from public health, planning and the business community and sets out a clear path for local authorities to work in partnership to make our high streets – and our local communities – thrive.”

Read more about our Healthy Places project.