Ten Areas Earmarked To Become 'Healthy Towns'

Ten areas in England will be developed into "healthy towns" in a bid to combat the nation's obesity crisis.

NHS England says the new communities will be focussed on "healthy living" and will provide more than 76,000 homes across England.

The developments will be used to test ideas for reducing obesity, including having fast food-free zones near schools and green spaces, while also helping sufferers of dementia.

Clinicians, designers and tech experts are to "re-imagine" how health care can be delivered across the country.

Speaking to The King's Fund later today, NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens will say: "The much-needed push to kick-start affordable housing across England creates a golden opportunity for the NHS to help promote health and keep people independent.

"As these new neighbourhoods and towns are built, we'll kick ourselves if in ten years time we look back having missed the opportunity to 'design out' the obesogenic environment, and 'design in' health and wellbeing."

The areas chosen to be part of the project include Whitehill and Bordon in Hampshire, Cranbrook in Devon, a new development in Darlington, and Barking Riverside in London.

Halton Lee in Runcorn, Cheshire, Whyndyke Farm in Fylde, Lancashire, and a new community in Bicester, Oxfordshire, will also take part.

Professor Kevin Fenton, National Director for Health and Wellbeing at Public Health England, said: "Some of the UK's most pressing health challenges - such as obesity, mental health issues, physical inactivity and the needs of an ageing population - can all be influenced by the quality of our built and natural environment.

"The considerate design of spaces and places is critical to promote good health. This innovative programme will inform our thinking and planning of everyday environments to improve health for generations to come."