Aspect 1 - TBC Neighbourhood design
Overview
Local Neighbourhoods provide spaces and places where people live, work and play. A well-designed neighbourhood provides opportunities for people to enjoy positive health and wellbeing outcomes such as healthy behaviours and lifestyles. Healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods provide a holistic approach to creating nurturing environments. They include the capacity to deliver cohesive, inclusive and safe communities which provide a sense of identity and belonging. They provide quality provision of local services, facilities and local employment. Healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods create spaces and places for people of all ages to live, thrive and prosper.
Determinant 1a - Quality Provision of Local Services and Facilities
Requrements
Healthy and sustainable neighbourhoods require a range and variety of local services and facilities. These include the provision of shops, education, health, sports and leisure, recreational, cultural and community facilities. These should meet the varied necessities of the community, support everyday needs, the local economy and encourage healthy lifestyle and behaviours. Services and facilities need to be conveniently located, well designed and of good quality.
Issues, Impacts and Links to Health and Wellbeing Effects:
Below is an outline as to the importance of the determinant, its connection to health and wellbeing outcomes, and how it affects different population groups, particularly the most vulnerable.
Supporting everyday life and convenience:
Neighbourhoods designed with a convenient range and variety of local services supports everyday life and encourages sustainable lifestyles by improving convenience. It particularly supports those without access to a car such as older people, children and low-income households. (Design codes for health and wellbeing, 2025)
Active lifestyles:
When key services and facilities are within walking, wheeling and cycling distances of homes, workplaces and other services, physical activity increases which enables positive physical and mental health outcomes. Reducing unnecessary long-distance and motorised travel has the potential to lower stress levels along with carbon emissions and poor air quality. (Sports England, 2023)
Air, noise and light pollution:
Having local services within walking distance reduces reliance on motorised vehicles which cuts down air, noise and light pollution. This helps alleviates respiratory problems and stress related health issues while contributing towards tackling climate change.
Economy and employment:
Providing local neighbourhoods where people can work locally and meet their everyday needs supports and boosts local economies. Opportunities for local employment also reduces the need for travel, helps to support buying local which in turn fosters social connections and social cohesion. (TCPA, 2021)
Vibrant places with strong communities:
The provision of mixed-use developments (which integrate residential, commercial, retail and leisure) and places with high quality local services and facilities, including local shops providing essential goods, create places people want to use. This leads to active and vibrant places with cohesive communities where people can thrive. (National Design Guide, 2021)
Inclusion and interaction:
For people with mobility challenges, including older people, local services and facilities provide essential items and vital opportunities for social interaction which reduces loneliness and depression. (RTPI, 2020)
Supporting mental health:
Quality community facilities and hubs offer social support and resources creating opportunities for social interaction and community participation fostering a sense of belonging and reducing loneliness. Community facilities can include local shops, meeting places, cultural buildings, public houses, places of worship and sport venues. (Importance outlined in Where People Meet).
Education and training:
Local access to a range of education and training opportunities shapes long-term health and wellbeing by improving self-esteem, job prospects, income and social status.
Health facilities:
Local good quality health and social care facilities have a direct positive effect on overall health and wellbeing. ‘Place‑based’ care organises services around a specific area, recognising that location plays a key role in health. It brings together NHS, social care and community organisations to address local needs and the wider determinants of health, ensuring services are integrated and delivered closer to home. This approach also facilitates ‘community‑led care’, making local people’s voices central to how services are designed and delivered. (For more information see What Is Neighbourhood Health? | The King's Fund)