Town meeting series
Health on the high street: The community case
The community benefits of integrating health and care into the design of our town centres
Beyond the fortunes and failures of the economy lie the lives and livelihoods of those behind the statistics. Communities impacted by the funding and decision-making that shapes their towns and cities. Amid the current social and economic challenges facing communities across the UK, many are crying out for joined-up thinking and creative solutions that address both.
As we already explored in part one of this series, a holistic approach that unites high street and health has the power to boost the economies of an area. However, equally as important, the integration and accessibility of health and wellbeing on our high streets can empower the communities they are built to serve.
How can we make it work? We asked the experts
At Prime, we know the importance of coming together and carefully constructing the change we want to see. To kick start these crucial conversations, we’ve reached out for expert insights, to capture a breadth of ideas and visions for the future of our town centres and health and care services. In this second instalment of our town meeting series: Health on the High Street we explore the community benefits of integrating health and care into the design of our town centres.
In conversation with:
Alan Anthony, Architect & Managing Director, Threesixty Architecture & Director, Revo
Michael Wood, Head of Economic Partnerships, NHS Confederation
Stephen Wicks, Director, Fund Management, Retail, Nuveen Real Estate
Anne-Marie Nicholson, Principal, Life3A
Jonathan Lambert, Development & Head of UK mixed use development group, Savills
Historically, health and care services have been priced out of urban locations. However, as the retail-dominated model struggles, it opens opportunities for health and care managers to work with planners, developers and landowners to consider alternative uses for town centre space. In conjunction with this opportunity, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the limitations of existing models of health delivery and the inadequate resources available to support older members of society. Today’s commercial reality offers us a pivotal moment of reflection, to reassess just how our urban spaces could be used to better serve the needs of communities.
Has COVID-19 changed how you think health and care should be integrated into the community?
“While there will always be a need for acute services to be provided in a hospital setting, often these are situated on the outskirts of towns and require people to drive. Hospitals are also of course places with a high concentration of sick people. COVID-19 has made me begin to reflect on the range and types of services that could be situated outside hospitals and in the community, particularly in ways that could increase both the engagement with, and effectiveness of, the service.”
– Michael Wood, Head of Economic Partnerships, NHS Confederation
“I have become more acutely aware of the huge contributions our local pharmacies have on our health and wellbeing. They provide an instantly accessible face-to-face connection during a time of online health appointments. Many of us have avoided hospital appointments as a result of lockdowns and social distancing when we would have been more comfortable being seen at a non-COVID health centre in a more local setting.”
– Anne-Marie Nicholson, Principal, Life3A
The wellbeing of communities is intrinsically linked to the social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions that enable them to thrive and fulfil their personal and collective potential. If the hearts of our communities are safe, vibrant spaces that increase access to health services, connections to others and economic prospects, we have the foundations on which to build healthier, happier communities.
Do you believe investing in health and care in our town centres could improve the wellbeing of the communities in those areas?
“By its nature, the wellbeing of communities should improve as service provisions are increased. However, there would hopefully be a regeneration effect in the immediate area and over time this could and should lead to improvements in the physical environment, making town centres better places to visit and live.”
– Stephen Wicks, Director, Fund Management, Retail, Nuveen Real Estate
“Health and care developments should not be seen as standalone, edge-of-centre sites tucked away out of sight. Residents want and feel the need to be part of the community, see activity, interact with people of different ages, and use public facilities on their doorstep. The sustainability requirements for town centres are equally as important with the increase in green space, less reliance on cars and the importance of wellbeing. This will undoubtedly increase the wellbeing of those communities living in town centres but also those visiting with an increase in dwell time and social interaction.”
– Jonathan Lambert, Development & Head of UK mixed use development group, Savills
What other community benefits could come from integrating health and care into our town centres?
“I believe we identify emotionally with the fabric and history of our town centres and that the health of the centre has a direct impact on the wellbeing of a community. The more uses we can put in the centre, the better chance we will have of meeting the needs of the whole community, combating isolation and reinforcing a feeling of belonging. The town centre is the most accessible location available to all demographics and with the concentration of multiple uses, car journeys will be reduced and the challenges of the climate emergency more readily addressed.”
– Alan Anthony, Architect & Managing Director, Threesixty Architecture & Director, Revo
“Building health into the high street has multiple benefits. It can play an important role in addressing health inequalities, offer much-needed additional capacity for health service delivery and attract more people into their local high street, while also encouraging healthier lifestyles. Not only would more people visit and use high streets, the types, ethos and diversity could change. Those who may not use high streets regularly to shop, for example, would use them to attend health services, making more vibrant community spaces.”
– Michael Wood, Head of Economic Partnerships, NHS Confederation
In addition to the benefits that come from increased service accessibility and footfall in our town centre spaces, one of the greatest opportunities for regeneration lies in the development of high-quality and appropriate accommodation for our ageing population. A demographic who could benefit hugely from being more connected to an active, vibrant and diverse community, and who have the financial ability to simultaneously support businesses and services within an urban setting.
How will integrating health and care into our town centres improve our approach to later living in the UK?
“There is a key economic and revitalising benefit to bringing retired people to live in town centres, many of whom remain in their prime, have large disposable incomes, are social, fit and active. Their footfall can play a strong and positive role in supporting town centre uses at times of the day that are often quieter. The ‘grey pound’ now accounts for £320bn of annual household spending and the over-50s hold over three-quarters of the nation’s financial wealth. More needs to be done to encourage senior people to frequent town centres, and what better way than if they already live and socialise there.”
– Jonathan Lambert, Development & Head of UK mixed use development group, Savills
“Town centres need to be spaces where people feel safe and secure. They must be a place people want to live, and a truly integrated approach to health, care and living can assist in that objective. Health and care within centres could be a catalyst to lead to improvements and transformation of some centres.”
– Stephen Wicks, Director, Fund Management, Retail, Nuveen Real Estate
“For generations, the town centre has been the shared landscape of memory and youth and as such, a dementia-friendly, positive environment for an ageing population. Why are we building edge of town retirement villages with fake high streets while our actual high streets lie empty? A re-energised town centre offers so much more for later living and all within walking distance – activities, services, travel connections and a multigenerational community.”
– Alan Anthony, Architect & Managing Director, Threesixty Architecture & Director, Revo
What do you believe is the biggest untapped opportunity when it comes to integrating health and care into our town centres?
“Housing options for older people is the biggest untapped opportunity when it comes to integrating a healthy and supported environment for our town centres. There are some excellent developers/operators in the UK who will not only build great homes but understand the importance of accessible and activated public realm, legible and safe environments and of attracting complementary uses that sit alongside their schemes. These schemes are a catalyst to break the cycle of planning for single demographic groups by encouraging an intergenerational and integrated community.”
– Anne-Marie Nicholson, Principal, Life3A
“Health on the high street is a relatively simple idea that brings two policy agendas together at a time of severe challenge. A useful starting point to initiate the kinds of discussions needed to re-energise this relationship relates to bricks and mortar. If plans are being developed to repurpose buildings or areas, how could they align with the emerging primary and community health developments? We need to break this cycle of isolated decision-making.”
– Michael Wood, Head of Economic Partnerships, NHS Confederation
Motivated by the opportunities that lie before us to reshape town centres into spaces that meet future challenges, we are driving the conversation about health on the high street forward. For further thinking about the solutions that can transform ailing town centres into spaces that better serve the diverse needs of their communities, explore more Prime insights.
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