Housing, planning and environments for health
Cross-government publications intended to inform local councils, mayoral strategic authorities and other organisations with an interest in creating healthy places.
The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) focuses on improving the nation’s health and addressing health disparities. This includes supporting the creation of healthier places, so that the design of the built and natural environment contributes to improving public health and reducing health inequalities.
This collection includes evidence, resources and guidance which can help local authorities, health and social care commissioners and decision makers make plans to improve health and wellbeing through the places in which people live. The built and natural environment has a significant impact on health outcomes, both directly and indirectly. If you are working on improving health by addressing the built and natural environment, the Healthy Places team would like to hear from you. To get in touch, email healthyplaces@dhsc.gov.uk.
Improving health through active travel and transport
Transport matters for public health because the way people travel affects how active they are, the air they breathe and their risk of long‑term illness. It is possible to explore data on transport using the Department for Transport’s interactive dashboard.
Reducing health harms from air pollution
Air pollution is one of the greatest environmental risks to public health in the UK.
Improving health through housing
Housing is a fundamental determinant of health. The quality, affordability, security and design of homes shape physical and mental health and health inequalities throughout people’s lives. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) collects information about people’s housing circumstances and the condition and energy efficiency of housing in England through the English Housing Survey. Guidance on the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) is also published by MHCLG.
This section provides information and guidance on housing-related hazards that affect people’s health. Information on homelessness and rough sleeping is published by MHCLG and can be accessed through the homelessness and rough sleeping topic page.
Improving health through natural environments
Nature, and the features of natural environments, is important for good health. This includes the access that people have to green and blue spaces.
Natural England has published:
- a green infrastructure framework
- a guide for measuring health outcomes when evaluating outdoor interventions
- a green infrastructure planning and design guide
Publications related to the Environmental Improvement Plan are published by Defra.
Improving health through spatial planning
The built and natural environment is an important determinant of health and wellbeing. This refers to the physical environment in which people live, work and play. Sport England has published active design guidance which describes how the design of environments can help people to lead more physically active and healthy lives.
Updates to this page
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Changed the title of the collection from ‘Homes for health’ to ‘Housing, planning and environments for health’. Added information and publications on active travel and transport, air pollution, natural environments and spatial planning.
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Added 'Spatial planning and health: Getting Research into Practice (GRIP)'.
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Added 'Fast food outlets: density by local authority in England' to healthy communities and neighbourhoods section.
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Updated to include new research and analysis Healthy High Streets on the environmental impact on mental health
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Added 'Health and environmental impact assessment: guide for local teams'.
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Added 'Spatial planning for health: evidence review'.
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Added the Improving health through the home documents.
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Added Smoke and carbon guidance, homelessness: applying all our health.
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Added Care & Repair publications.
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First published.