New House of Commons Committee Inquiry report puts spotlight on healthy places

This House of Commons Committee report, Prevention in health and social care: healthy places, makes a number of recommendations to government on preventative measures that can contribute to healthy placemaking, including in relation to housing conditions, developing healthier homes, health promotion and integrated care, town planning and tacking wider health inequalities in the built environment.

It recognises that "places where people live—homes, communities and neighbourhoods—affect their health and wellbeing substantially. Place, health inequalities and the likelihood of developing preventable health conditions are inextricably linked. People from less well-off groups, and those who live in less well-off neighbourhoods, have a much higher likelihood of developing life-limiting health conditions and associated comorbidities, and of dying prematurely from the effects of those conditions."

The report also highlights the importance of planning for 'health neighbourhoods' as well as the impact of poor quality and unhealthy homes such as homes that cannot be adapted for disabled people or older residents.

The government has two months to respond.

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And if you found this of interest, join us on the morning of Day Five of our upcoming Summit - A Festival of Ideas when we will joined by The Health Foundation who gave evidence to the Commons’ Inquiry.