Recommendation 15

Healthy places are vital to protecting people’s physical and mental health from both direct and indirect consequences and in turn, to building a sustainable health service. “Healthy places” include both the built environment—homes, communities and neighbourhoods—and wider environmental factors, such as air quality and emission levels. The benefits of building healthier places go far beyond DHSC and the health service, and achieving these benefits requires buy-in from a range of Government Departments. In turn, the benefits of healthy places are crucial to a range of wider priorities, including building a stronger, more productive economy and protecting the environment in which we live. The problems caused by “unhealthy places” are 28 Prevention in health and social care: healthy places whole-society problems. Tackling them will require long-term thinking and whole- Government solutions, including commitment, leadership and co-ordination from the very top. (Paragraph 59) Prevention in health and social care: healthy places 29