The quality and design of our high streets, buildings and open spaces has a major impact on our health and wellbeing
The links between planning and health are explicitly expressed throughout the current National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 3 In particular, Section 8 ‘Promoting healthy communities’ highlights that the planning system has an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities (see Box 2 for examples).
Making high streets more attractive places to go to not only improves economic viability, but also promotes health. Particular types of retail can have major impacts on the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
Box 2: Examples of how planning impacts on health 4
There are many examples of how planning impacts on health and wellbeing:
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References
- Communities and Local Government, “National Planning Policy Framework,” 2012
- https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/implementing-london-plan/supplementary-planning-guidance/social-infrastructure
- Communities and Local Government, “National Planning Policy Framework,” 2012
- https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/planning/implementing-london-plan/supplementary-planning-guidance/social-infrastructure