Kellogg team presents research to Government department

GCHU talks ‘healthy cities’ with the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

In September, members of the GCHU team presented the findings from their report “What Creates Healthy Cities” to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), as part of the Chief Scientific Advisor’s Seminar Series.

Addressing an audience of high level policy-makers, including the Chief Scientific Advisor Professor Alan Penn, researchers Dr Juliet Carpenter and Dr David Howard outlined the key findings from the report, which was an outcome of their 18-month collaboration with the Commission on Creating Healthy Cities, and the Prince’s Foundation.

Key messages relevant to DLUHC’s policy agendas included the critical role of healthy and affordable homes for healthy cities, dovetailing with the net zero agenda through emphasising the importance of retrofitting. The role of the planning system was also highlighted in discussions, both through Regulation that can impact on energy efficiency and accessibility standards, as well as a broader steer through the National Planning Policy Framework.

Coming just a day after the arrival of the UK’s new Prime Minister, discussions included the links between healthy cities and growth, which will be a cornerstone of the new administration’s policy agenda over the coming years, leading up to the next election in 2024.

The DLUHC organiser commented that it was “a brilliant seminar, great to see a big turnout and such high engagement”.

The GCHU team will continue to disseminate the findings of the report, both at local and national levels, most immediately to Members of both Houses of Parliament at the next APPG on Healthy Homes and Buildings in October.

The next GCHU public seminar on 12th October will focus on the findings of the report, register now.