Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
First Report - Prevention in health and social care: healthy places
Health and Social Care Committee
HC 484
Published 19 January 2024
Recommendations
7
Accepted
Para 27
Consult on making health-related design and space standards mandatory for all new dwellings.
Recommendation
We recommend the Government consult on both the content of existing design and space standards as they relate to health, and on the implications of making such standards mandatory for new dwellings—both for developments requiring standard planning consent, and for …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the importance of healthy places and is committed to the Levelling Up mission, highlighting existing cross-government work and initiatives, but does not commit to the recommended consultation on making design and space standards mandatory for new dwellings.
Department of Health and Social Care
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9
Accepted
Para 38
Lack of clarity and integration post-PHE hinders health promotion in planning applications.
Recommendation
The former Public Health England’s Healthy Places team had a clear remit to support healthy development. Following PHE’s dissolution and the division of its responsibilities, there is a lack of clarity over which part of DHSC is now responsible for …
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Government Response Summary
The government states that the former Public Health England's Healthy Places team transferred to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) within DHSC, where officials continue their work to improve public health through the built and natural environment.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Conclusions (6)
1
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 7
The 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 …
Government Response Summary
The government is extending the Decent Homes Standard (DHS) to the private rented sector through the Renters (Reform) Bill and aims to halve non-decent rented homes by 2030. They have engaged with stakeholders, commissioned analysis, and intend to publish a consultation on an updated DHS soon.
2
Conclusion
Accepted
The evidence base on the importance of place in protecting good health is stronger than it has ever been. But as we discuss in the next chapter, we have known about the relationship between health and place for decades, if not longer. It is frustrating that more progress has not …
Government Response Summary
The government has introduced 'Awaab’s Law' via the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 to mandate social landlords to address hazards like damp and mould within a fixed timeframe. The Renters (Reform) Bill will also introduce a Decent Homes Standard for the private rented sector and establish a new PRS Ombudsman.
3
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 16
Homes in the private rented sector contribute disproportionately to both the total number of poor quality homes and the costs that poor housing causes to the NHS. The existence of a statutory minimum standard for housing in the social rented sector is not enough on its own to protect tenants …
Government Response Summary
The government highlights existing measures such as the Nationally Described Space Standard, requirements for Permitted Development Rights, and design codes as mechanisms to maintain design quality. They conclude that further consultation on design or space standards is not necessary at this time.
8
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 37
Local authorities and councils necessarily consider a wide range of criteria in assessing planning applications. This, alongside pressures on their resources and skills, makes it difficult for them to prioritise ensuring that planning promotes health. The lack of changes to requirements relating to health in the revised National Planning Policy …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that places where people live, work and age is critical to our health and describes actions being taken to ensure health, wellbeing and action to tackle disparities are embedded across new active travel policies and programmes.
13
Conclusion
Accepted
Para 55
Integrated Care Systems aim to enable a stronger focus on prevention, and on the specific approaches needed in different communities to help ensure that they are “healthy places”. But this is a long-term agenda. The mixed longer-term outcomes of initiatives such as Healthy New Towns demonstrate that building communities that …
Government Response Summary
The government agrees that much of what keeps us healthy lies outside the NHS and social care system and that creating healthy places and ensuring good health for all is essential to Levelling Up. DHSC is collaborating with DfT and Active Travel England to help deliver the Government’s cycling and walking plan. The Public Health England Healthy Places team transferred to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), within DHSC.
15
Conclusion
Accepted
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 …
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the committee's conclusion, stating it is already committed to creating healthy places through the Levelling Up mission, the Green Infrastructure Framework, and collaborations with other departments on active travel and public health initiatives.