Neighbourhood Health Hubs and a range of other public and private health services could prove to be the keys to high street and town centre regeneration, according to Radix Big Tent. 

The influential think tank behind the Kate Barker-led Housing Commission - which helped shape many of the DHCLG’s housing delivery policies - today launched a new project to bring community health on to the UK High Street, both to improve public health and act as a catalyst for regeneration.

To be chaired by author, designer and place-strategist, Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim, the cross-sector Health on the High Street Commission is setting out, not to produce another glossy vision document, but to identify practical steps to unblock the planning, financial and cultural obstacles to high street regeneration through health.   

The independent commission will comprise experts from investment, planning, place-making, national and local government, and public and private health care.  Commissioners include crossbench peer, Lord (Andrew) Mawson, the driver behind the trail-blazing Bromley-by-Bow Health Partnership and Michael Brown, the chief architect of the ground-breaking Barnsley Health Hub, which has seen Outpatients services relocated to the town centre Alhambra shopping centre.

Announcing the Commission’s launch, Radix Big Tent Chief Executive, Ben Rich, says:

“There is widespread political agreement that putting health services at the heart of communities is a good idea. And yet, despite this consensus, progress is glacial. “Why? Because the system designed to deliver this is stuck in neutral. Speaking with senior leaders from the NHS and private health providers, local government, private investment and regeneration, what becomes clear is that there is not a lack of ambition, but a wall of institutional and systemic inertia that prevents change.  The purpose of this commission is to identify and produce policies to remove the friction points that stall delivery.”

Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim added: 

“The focus of the commission is less about the details of the healthcare provision and more about its halo effect, and how it can drive social and commercial value in our high streets and shopping centres."

The Commission – launched on the 19th May to coincide with this year’s UKREiiF property conference - plans to report within twelve months.  In addition to conducting desk research and commissioning original research, the commissioners are eager to hear evidence from and learn from successful examples of delivering health on the high street across the country. 

Radix Big Tent is grateful for the support of the Sidara Collective, global specialists in design, engineering and consultants, as well as law firm, Stevens & Bolton, and architects, James Totty Partnership in funding the work of the Commission.

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