Prior + Partners Director, Shaun Andrews, has joined the Health on the High Street Commission, a new cross-sector initiative launched by think tank Radix Big Tent to explore how community health infrastructure can drive town centre and high street regeneration.
The think tank behind the Kate Barker-led Housing Commission – which helped shape many of the DHCLG’s housing delivery policies – has launched the Health on the High Street Commission. Chaired by author, designer and place-strategist Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim, the commission is focused on identifying practical steps to unblock the planning, financial and cultural obstacles to high street regeneration through health.
The independent commission will bring together experts from investment, planning, place-making, national and local government, and public and private healthcare. Commissioners include crossbench peer Lord Mawson OBE, who led the Bromley-by-Bow Health Partnership, and Michael Brown, chief architect of the Barnsley Health Hub, which saw outpatient services relocated to the town centre Alhambra shopping centre.
Announcing the Commission’s launch, Radix Big Tent Chief Executive, Ben Rich, says:
“There is widespread political agreement that putting health services at the heart of communities is a good idea. And yet, despite this consensus, progress is glacial.
“Why? Because the system designed to deliver this is stuck in neutral. Speaking with senior leaders from the NHS and private health providers, local government, private investment and regeneration, what becomes clear is that there is not a lack of ambition, but a wall of institutional and systemic inertia that prevents change. The purpose of this commission is to identify and produce policies to remove the friction points that stall delivery.”
Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim added: “The focus of the commission is less about the details of the healthcare provision and more about its halo effect, and how it can drive social and commercial value in our high streets and shopping centres.”
The Commission’s launch coincided with this year’s UKREiiF conference and plans to report within twelve months. In addition to desk research, commissioners are seeking evidence from successful examples of delivering health on the high street across the country.
About Radix Big Tent
Known as the system change think-tank, Radix Big Tent is a cross-party, independent think tank dedicated to the renewal of Britain by transforming not just what we do but how we do it. A registered charity, Radix Big Tent couples radical thinking with practical proposals. Chaired by leading economist Vicky Pryce, its fellows includes former Health Secretary, Lord Lansley, Labour MP, Rachel Blake, and former Business Secretary, Vince Cable. Health of the High St is its latest project alongside, New Capital Consensus (focussed on the investment system) Resilient Democracy, and the Housing Commission.
Credits
The sixteen Health on the High Street Commissioners are Chair, Prof Ibrahim Ibrahim, Ben Rich (Radix Big Tent CEO), Shaun Andrews, Tamsin Berry, Michael Brown, Dr David Colin-Thome OBE, , Dr Paul Goldsmith, Beatrice Fraenkel, Cllr Carli Harper, Sarah Hordern, Lord Mawson OBE, Jamie Ounan, Mark Robinson, Paul Sheldon, Andrew Steele, Bex Trevalyan.
