Health Equity North recommendations in actions as government backs high street restoration

"We welcome the Prime Minister's announcement today about the Pride in Place Programme, which will grant local authorities greater powers to regulate high street outlets such as vape shops and betting shops. This marks an important step toward tackling the clustering of unhealthy amenities that too often undermine community health and wellbeing. In our 'Ghost Towns' report released earlier this year, Health Equity North highlighted that the prevalence of unhealthy amenities on our high streets was damaging to health and is widening inequalities, particularly in northern regions. One of our key recommendations was to increase local authority regulation of these amenities. Today’s announcement shows that evidence-based advocacy can drive meaningful change, and we are pleased to see this recommendation taken forward. The announcement is an important step in the right direction, but if we are to build healthier, more prosperous communities, we must also invest in and incentivise the growth of health and wellbeing promoting amenities - such as supermarkets, libraries and pharmacies - and redesign high streets to create friendlier and safer places. We urge the Housing, Communities and Local Government Minister to consider our further recommendations to ensure that our high streets can flourish, not flounder."

Research Associate at Newcastle University Population Sciences Institute