Webinar: Making healthy decisions on urban development and planning

The leading causes of ill health and death in the UK are non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart and respiratory conditions, cancer, diabetes and mental health problems. These illnesses cannot be passed from person to person, but our risk of developing them is linked to aspects of the urban environment, including air pollution, and access to greenspace and nature. 

On Monday 13 December 2021, the fourth and final webinar in this series shared emerging findings from UKPRP-funded projects and explored their implications for policy. Speakers from the TRUUD (Tackling the Root causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development) consortium outlined their work with decision makers and communities to prioritise health in urban decision-making processes.  

TRUUD is focusing on major new infrastructure and transport systems in its case study areas of Bristol and Greater Manchester and is exploring how NCDs can be prevented by changing the way that urban development decisions are made. 

Speakers 

• Philippa Hemmings, Head of Healthcare Technologies, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
• Professor Sarah Ayres, Professor of Public Policy and Governance, University of Bristol 
• Dr Krista Bondy, Associate Professor, Corporate Social Responsibility & Environmental Management, University of Bath 
• Angela Hands, Public Health Programme Manager, Healthy Places and Communities Team, Office of Health Improvement and Disparities 

Watch the recording

The TRUUD consortium’s membership includes a range of academic disciplines, such as urban planning and development, corporate governance, law, economics and public health. Other key users include Bristol City Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Bristol Health Partners, and the Royal Town Planning Institute amongst others. 

TRUUD is funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership (UKPRP).  

The UKPRP is a £50 million multi-funder initiative that supports novel, multidisciplinary research into the primary prevention of non-communicable diseases, to improve population health and reduce health inequalities. The UKPRP made its first round of awards in 2019, including to TRUUD. A further round of awards has recently been announced.  

This webinar was the fourth and final in the series in which emerging learning from the UKPRP funded projects will be shared.