Building health into housing must be a priority

The Government’s 10-Year Health Plan released earlier this summer sets out an ambitious vision to bring care closer to local communities. It promises a network of integrated neighbourhood services to create an NHS fit for the future. But updating healthcare facilities alone isn’t enough – a holistic approach to health must involve the private as well as the public sector.

Developers have their role to play and must now rise to the challenge of designing housing that actively promotes health and wellbeing.

Our homes are where we spend the vast majority of our time, shaping how we live, work and travel. In doing so, they profoundly influence our health. When designed thoughtfully, new homes can encourage healthier lifestyles and release pressure on the NHS. For developers, two of the biggest opportunities lie in better connectivity and access to safe, welcoming green spaces.

Health driven infrastructure

Physical inactivity costs the NHS an estimated £900 million every year. The most forward-thinking developers are already placing health at the centre of place-making, starting with infrastructure. Well-connected sites with high-quality walking and cycling routes enable seamless active travel, helping residents weave healthy habits into daily life. Providing supporting infrastructure can also boost property values and streamline the planning process, with policy frameworks favouring well-connected, sustainable sites.

Developers must look beyond their red-line boundaries. The health of a place is shaped as much by its connections to surrounding infrastructure as by what lies within its footprint.

Yet implementing the right infrastructure is a challenge across the industry. At Hale Wharf, one of Muse’s flagship schemes in Tottenham Hale, connectivity was a central obstacle. The site was cut off from shops, transport links and the wider community by the River Lea Navigation. Without intervention, pedestrians would have been forced onto a poorly lit, busy road – hardly conditions that encourage walking or cycling.

 Developers must look beyond their red-line boundaries. The health of a place is shaped as much by its connections to surrounding infrastructure as by what lies within its footprint.

Our solution was to build three new bridges spanning the river, transforming access to and from the development. Today, Hale Wharf residents can reach amenities on foot, while the wider Tottenham Hale community enjoys improved access to The Paddock Community Nature Reserve. It’s a clear example of how targeted infrastructure investment can make healthier, more liveable places.

Ensuring residents can walk, wheel and cycle to schools, healthcare facilities, workplaces and transport hubs requires collaboration with local authorities, infrastructure providers and community organisations. Great place-making is holistic: it interlinks homes, amenities and mobility into a single cohesive ecosystem.

Integrating everyday, inclusive and safe green spaces

Access to nature is another determinant of health, but at least 10,000 Londoners still lack it, living more than a 10-minute walk away from the nearest green space. Even where green spaces exist, poor design often renders them inaccessible or unwelcoming. This is especially true for women: in 2024, 72% reported altering outdoor activity routines in winter due to darker conditions.

Parks are important, but nature in cities cannot be confined to large, centralised spaces. Everyday access to greenery – whether through tree-lined streets, pocket parks, private balconies, or views of rivers and canals – can deliver mental and physical health benefits. Successful schemes weave nature throughout the built environment, treating it not as an optional extra but as an essential feature of urban living.  

Designing health into the public realm must remain a priority. The long-term payoffs to communities and the NHS are immense.

 If green spaces feel unsafe, they will go unused, particularly by women, older adults and those with mobility challenges. Developers can address this by creating environments that feel welcoming and secure through design strategies such as active frontages and lighting schemes that improve visibility at night. An inclusive approach doesn’t just meet regulatory minimums – it builds places where all residents feel confident being outside, year-round.

As the sector looks to ramp up building in response to the government’s 1.5 million homes pledge, we cannot sacrifice access to safe, welcoming public spaces. Designing health into the public realm must remain a priority. The long-term payoffs to communities and the NHS are immense.

At Muse’s Stroudley Walk development in Bromley-by-Bow, we faced this challenge directly. The site’s park had become an unwelcoming space, underused and historically prone to crime. By introducing affordable housing, retail units and community centres at ground level, we created natural surveillance and fostered social interaction. Well-lit paths further improved safety, turning a neglected park into a welcoming, well-used community asset.

The most impactful health outcomes come from decisions made at the earliest stages of planning. Prioritising public realm improvements at the outset ensures developments actively support wellbeing over the long term.

Building healthier futures

When masterplans embed health metrics alongside economic and environmental goals, they create more than just housing. As a sector, we have the opportunity to play a role that extends beyond construction: to shape places that nurture health, strengthen social connection and reduce pressure on the NHS for generations to come.

Chris Scott is development director & ESG Lead, southern team at Muse