NHS England has selected 12 partners to back its “healthy new towns” initiative, which aims to create healthier places to live in the UK.
British Land and Urban Catalyst are among the chosen development partners, which also include affordable housing provider A2 Dominion; UK housing associations Clarion, Hanover and Peabody; developers HAB Housing, Thakeham, housebuilder Redrow Homes, and Urban and Civic.
Each company has formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding, pledging their commitment to prioritising health and wellbeing in the delivery of new housing developments and regeneration schemes.
Fast-food-free zones near schools, technology to help people access GP services virtually and “dementia-friendly” streets: shopping areas where local shops and staff are aware of the needs of people living with dementia, are among the proposals to be used in 10 experimental communities dubbed “healthy new towns”.
The 10 sites selected, in areas including Darlington and Devon, cover 60,000 new homes. In London, there are plans to build 10,800 homes at Barking Riverside, the city’s largest brownfield site.
The healthy new towns programme, was set up by NHS England, in partnership with Public Health England, in 2016.
NHS England was approached for comment.
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