Prevention Is Better Than Cure: Planning, Health And Well-Being

"Health and well-being" is on the Government's radar. Two recent publications, a housing design audit by University College London (UCL) and a Department for Transport survey, prompt consideration of the role that the planning process in England plays in ensuring the health and well-being of the people who live and work in this country. In a blog post last year we looked at well-being in the built environment and the Well Building Standard. How else can planning influence the choices that we can make to improve our health and well-being?

What do we mean by health and well-being?

Dictionary definitions vary but the following definitions seem most apt:

HEALTH - the condition of the body or mind and the degree to which it is free from illness, or the state of being well

WELL-BEING - a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity

Clearly there's a large degree of overlap. With regard to how we achieve either or both, it has been recognised for many years that it is better to encourage and facilitate healthy lifestyles...