WIREDGOV

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, LGA Community and Wellbeing spokesperson, said: "The environment can play a major role in improving people's health and well-being, and reducing the increase in major conditions such as obesity and diabetes."

"The environment can play a major role in improving people's health and well-being, and reducing the increase in major conditions such as obesity and diabetes, from minimising the number of unhealthy fast food outlets near where people live or go to school, to creating recreation areas for our children to play in and spend their free time.

"Councils are already taking steps to change the environment by promoting active travel and physical activity, with greater provision and access to green spaces. This has seen local planning officers work with public health policy offers to explore the ways in which planning policy and new developments can best be used to change environments for the better.

"Good urban and housing design promotes healthy lifestyles and can help prevent illness. It can also keep older people independent and healthy, supported by the latest technology to live in their own homes rather than in care homes

"The Healthy New Towns programme give us the opportunity to radically reshape health and care services, testing what can be achieved with fewer constraints. By keeping people well and providing services in better, more productive ways, healthy places to live can also contribute to the long term financial sustainability of the NHS."

Notes to editors

Examples of how councils are using planning policy to improve people's health