The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) has issued a new Newsletter on Healthy Homes, including resources, consultations and events.
TCPA news writes:
The second New Towns inquiry by the Lords Built Environment Committee ran this and last month. Julie Thrift (TCPA Director for Healthier Placemaking) gave evidence to the committee – including pointing out the need for a level playing field in relation to housing standards for the future New Towns – to avoid negotiations that further slow delivery.
The TCPA welcomed the recognition of housing standards as a determinant of health in the new Health Duty for strategic authorities in the Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill. We now await various key publications – including the revised National Planning Policy Framework and national housing strategy – likely to be released just before the Christmas break. And the long overdue Future Homes Standard which is suggested for release in early 2026.
Other housing updates:
- Housing as a strategic determinant of health. How housing standards can be applied to meet the new health duty for strategic authorities in the Devolution Bill, including through policies in Spatial Development Strategies and Local Plans.
- Planning with people. The Young Foundation for Town & Country Planning journal. 98% of people do not trust developers and less than one in ten trust local authorities on planning large developments. This article explains why community participation must be central and outlines key factors for success.
- Beyond pitting private profits against public purpose. Healthy Homes Fact Checker Part 2. This latest fact checker examines how realistic it is to expect the big six house builders to deliver the 1.5million housing target.
Wider Healthy Homes news
- Homes Without Harm. Radix Big Tent’s Housing Commission. This report issued a warning to the government that without changes to the existing housing stock, the UK is risking a ‘health emergency’ as climate change becomes more unpredictable. To read more go to the link below.
- All Under One Roof. More in Common and RSPB. This report shows the majority of British people want new homes, but think we can build them without further harm to nature.
- Is VAT incentivising demolition of homes rather than retrofitting? Public Interest Law Centre. This review finds the tax regime is incentivising developers to demolish homes, with negative consequences for the environment, carbon emissions, and communities.
- Environmental sustainability and housing growth. Environment Audit Committee. The EAC critiqued the Government for calling nature a ‘blocker’ to housing delivery – ‘a healthy environment is not a luxury but a necessity for resilient towns and neighbourhoods’.
- Boundaries, Budgets and Benchmarks: Moving the Housing Conversation Beyond Carbon. ARUP and Dark Matters Lab. Currently housing is the second largest emitter of green house gases in the UK, after transport. This report examines how the sector can cut carbon emissions and wider environmental impacts within planetary limits.
Resources
- Community Guide to Retrofit. Practical Hope: Inspiration for Community Action. TCPA. A short guide looking at what communities can do to share best practice, develop area-based projects, and use more sustainable energy sources.
- Roadmap to the Renters Rights Act 2025 MHCLG. Phase 1: New Private Rental Sector regime starts (May 2026); Phase 2: PRS Landlord Ombudsman established (late 2026); Phase 3: Awaab’s Law is extended and Decent Homes Standard applies (from 2027).
- Volume versus sustainability: Can we build more homes and build better? Building Research Establishment webinar recording with Adam Harvatt, Leeds City Council, Rosalie Callway, TCPA, and Ivan Rodriguez, Bridges Fund Management.
- Homes Built Together: Exploring Community-Led Housing & Cohousing. HousingLIN webinar recording. Two Housing Design Award-winning developments explore the art of the possible in their community-led housing and cohousing schemes.
- Three Ages of Child. BBC Radio 4. Paediatrician Dr Guddi Singh looks at why children in the UK face some of the worst health outcomes in Europe. Addressing housing, education, diet, the importance of play and community carers, plus projects on all these.
