Background
The places where people live, work and spend their time can have a significant impact on physical health, mental wellbeing and health inequalities. However, there is still limited evidence about which features of local environments have the greatest influence on health and how place-based changes can improve outcomes for different communities. Healthy Urban Places (HUP) brings together researchers, communities, local authorities and other stakeholders to better understand how local places can be designed and improved to support healthier lives and reduce inequalities.
Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of HUP is to understand how the power of local places can be harnessed to improve population health and reduce inequalities.
The project objectives are to:
- Identify what makes a healthy place and which features of local environments are most important for health and wellbeing.
- Explore how changes to urban environments affect health outcomes and inequalities.
- Generate evidence to inform local and national policy and decision-making about healthier urban environments.
- Work collaboratively with communities, public services, local government and voluntary sector organisations to co-produce relevant and impactful research.
- Support the development of healthier, more sustainable places through evidence-based policy and practice.
Methods
HUP uses a systems-based, multidisciplinary approach across two study areas: the Bradford District and the Liverpool City Region. These locations provide access to large population datasets that enable researchers to examine the long-term health impacts of local environments.
The programme uses a range of research methods, including:
- Community-based participatory research.
- Citizen science approaches.
- Analysis of population and environmental datasets.
- Economic modelling.
- Evaluation of existing and future place-based changes and regeneration initiatives.
- A key feature of the programme is the establishment of Community Collaboratives in Bradford and Liverpool, where residents, researchers and stakeholders work together to shape research priorities, co-produce studies and deliver local research projects.
Further Information
The programme runs from April 2024 to March 2028 and involves a wide range of academic, public sector and community partners, including the City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Liverpool City Region, the University of Bradford, the University of Leeds, the University of York, the University of Liverpool, University College London and several voluntary and community sector organisations.
The research is expected to inform regeneration, planning and public health policies, including major developments such as Southern Gateway and City Village in Bradford. By improving understanding of how urban places shape health, HUP aims to support healthier communities, reduce inequalities and influence local, regional and national policy.
