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Hippocrates, medical practice and the development of healthy places
I gave a talk at the RSA recently as part of an event called “Healing People, Healing Cities”, hosted by RSA Fellow Silviu Pirvu of Optimal Cities. The title inspired me to draw on something I wrote two years ago , in which I suggested that the “Do No Harm” principle, central to modern medical practice and embodied in the Hippocratic Oath undertaken by medical practitioners, does not seem to apply to the diagnosis and treatment of the health of our cities, neighbourhoods
4 days ago4 min read
Forest City – can a new vision of urbanism overcome the nation’s declinism?
Two weeks ago over 1000 people gathered at the O2 centre in London to launch a growth agenda for the UK. Looking for Growth (LFG) describes itself as “a political movement to push Britain out of decline. We build, we pressure politicians, we influence policy, we organise, co-ordinate and improve Britain, bit by bit”. Amongst speeches and panel discussions delivered over the course of the evening, an announcement was made about a separate initiative which embodies the ambit
Nov 64 min read
Is London ready for Waymo?
Earlier this year I spent a few weeks in San Francisco, and was amazed at how in the two years since my previous visit, the city had become dominated by AI . Waymo, the driverless taxis owned by Alphabet, parent company of Google, is perhaps the most visible element of this change. The white, camera-laden electric jaguars are everywhere – and while my first ride was quite thrilling (see video below) subsequent rides became normative. My Waymo rides were safe, convenient a
Oct 225 min read
Place-based health indexes: an essential resource in building for health
One of the reasons for launching Build for Health earlier this year and holding its first workshop in July was to work with a collective of built environment practitioners to forge consensus on practice in developing places that support good health. During this workshop and through our LinkedIn group we’ve shared and explored frameworks , tools , data , and design codes that have been developed to support practitioners in building for health. Implementation ha
Oct 175 min read
New housing, no infrastructure
Following the government’s cabinet reshuffle earlier this month, the new Housing minister, Steve Read, issued a “call to arms” to “build...
Sep 275 min read
Building for Health on the Aylesbury Estate
The Aylesbury estate is in the London Borough of Southwark. It was built between 1963 and 1977, and is one of the largest public housing...
Sep 55 min read
Hot Town, Summer in the City
It’s been a hot summer across Europe and much of North America, and this has generated lots of discussion about the impact of heat on our...
Aug 306 min read
Civic Life, Public Health - why loos are essential to our cities
Last week the BBC reported from Bath that a lack of public toilets in the city has left elderly people in tears and pushed customers...
Aug 62 min read
Springfield Village – How to Build for Health
Always on the lookout for redevelopment projects that align housing and placemaking with improving health outcomes, I was intrigued to...
Jul 285 min read
Build for Health – our first workshop
On a beautiful summer evening last Tuesday, fifty-odd leaders and practitioners from the built environment, health provision, public...
Jul 144 min read
Tech, tools and developing healthy places
At a time of change and uncertainty in housing, planning and health policy, robust data gives us the anchor we need to understand what is...
Jun 206 min read
Time for a health upgrade to Section 106
Section 106 is not in a good place. Originating from the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990 it was designed as a mechanism to...
Jun 66 min read
What does inclusive growth look like? touring Barking & Dagenham with Darren Rodwell
The push for economic growth continues to dominate government policy across multiple agendas, including climate and housing, and local...
May 2217 min read
What does an AI city look like?
I’m recently back from a few weeks in San Francisco and, as tour guide to a group of first-time visitor friends I duly showcased the...
May 136 min read
Building healthy places through community-led health coaching
Earlier this year, before its demise , NHS England published Neighbourhood Health Guidelines , which stated “there is an urgent need...
Apr 229 min read
Urban Healthonomics – back to the future of healthy, sustainable and prosperous cities
Martin Prince-Parrott, the author of recently published Urban Healthonomics, is a man on a mission. He’s also a walking contradiction....
Apr 96 min read
Embedding health into local planning – it’s all about the data
Last October, before the government’s autumn budget, I wrote a blog making a case that the UK is at an inflection point in housing and...
Mar 217 min read
Community-led campaigns are needed now more than ever
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has” ...
Mar 135 min read
Is there a doctor in the house?
Does objecting to a new housing development in your local community, on the basis that no provision is made for new or expanded GP...
Feb 195 min read
Healthy Happy Places – a collaborative initiative in the Northeast of England
There’s an area in the northeast of England where planners, health providers, arts organisations and local government are collaborating...
Feb 57 min read
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