The Royal Society for Public Health has today published a landmark new report, Streets Ahead, setting out a roadmap to turn the UK’s high streets into drivers of good health.
How do the British public feel about their local high street?
Footfall on high streets has consistently declined, and 60% of the public say that they are concerned about the number of shops closing.
High streets are key to promoting healthier behaviours
With millions of people visiting them daily, the report makes the case that the UK’s high streets could hold the key to promoting healthier behaviours and reversing rising rates of ill health in the population.
As it stands, the report shows that the UK’s highstreets fall well short of the mark in terms of promoting health and wellbeing in the population.
The public feel their high streets are not benefitting their health
Polling of around 2,000 adults found that 87% of people think their high street does not have enough of at least one of the essential amenities needed for healthy living.
Additionally, the report found that 53% of the public, equivalent to 36 million people, say their local high street doesn't have enough shops selling healthy food, underscoring the need for urgent change.
On top of this, 42% (equivalent to 28 million people) report not having enough good public transport links to reach their local high street.
What can be done to fix our high streets?
In the face of declining footfall and shops closing, there is a clear need to regenerate high streets so that they meet the needs of today’s society.
A new model for healthy high streets
The report states that there are ten ‘building blocks’ of a healthy high street which include factors like strong public transport links, social spaces, safety (crime, lighting), access to high-quality healthy food, and infrastructure with built in accessibility.
It also sets out the ‘Streets Ahead Framework’ which it says should be embedded in local planning and new developments as the Government pushes ahead with major reforms of the planning system.
Changes to the tax system
The report calls for changes to the tax system that would see online retailers pay more with the money raised being used to improve the UK’s highstreets.
Statutory duty on private businesses and landlords
It also calls for the government to enact legislation that would require private businesses and landlords to work with local authorities to help create ‘healthy high street’ plans in order to get approval for private developments on or around high streets.
William Roberts, Chief Executive, Royal Society for Public Health, commented:
“High streets are an essential part of our society. For hundreds of years, they have been a cornerstone and they shape our experiences and our lives.
For far too long we have allowed the gradual decline of our highstreets to continue. Instead of the bustling hubs of community they once were, we have become far too used to seeing boarded up shops and our high streets lined with businesses that perpetuate ill health.
We can do better. We want everyone in this country to feel that their local high street is good for their health and to be proud of their local areas. People want to be healthy and the places they spend time in need to support them to make healthier choices.
For us, healthy places includes healthy high streets. We need to be ambitious for our high streets and that ambition to be backed up by action. This landmark new report sets out a roadmap for change at a national and local level."
