Physical environment

The physical environments in which people are born, live, grow, work and age have significant effects on mental and physical health and well-being. In order to reduce health inequalities, it is necessary to build healthier and more sustainable communities. Planning, transport, housing, environmental and health systems need to be developed collaboratively and policies designed to reduce inequities in health.

Many actions to reduce health inequalities will also benefit the sustainability agenda - for example, increasing or improving active travel, public transport, energy -efficient houses, availability of green space, healthy eating, and reducing carbon-based pollution. Reducing poor quality housing, including tackling cold homes is particularly important in improving health.

Regeneration programmes also have the potential to affect social capital and community cohesion, as well as improving the physical environment.

The examples below address some of these issues, or give ideas of how to tackle them to reduce health inequalities and improve health in both urban and rural communities.

All projects