Healthy Neighbourhood Environments HIT review of 2014-15

Dr Suzanne Audrey, Dr Adrian Davis and Marcus
Grant, Directors of the Healthy Neighbourhood Environments Health Integration Team (SHINE HIT) give an update on progress in 2014-15.

The Supporting Healthy Inclusive
Neighbourhood Environments (SHINE) HIT works with neighbourhoods in an
inter-generational, inter-disciplinary way, involving local people, policy
makers, practitioners and academics. We held our second review meeting in April
2015, where we identified several themes to take forward: child friendly city;
age friendly city; transport & access; open streets and public spaces; and
nature in the urban environment.

Suzanne is the principal
investigator of the Travel to Work randomised control trial, evaluating a walk
to work intervention in the Bath, South Gloucestershire and Swansea areas. She
is on the planning group of Bristol Walking Festival, and speaks regularly at
public events to highlight the importance of supporting walking in the urban
environment. She is also the principal investigator for a systematic review
with NIHR CLAHRC West, examining the impact of changes to the urban environment
on mental health and wellbeing.

Adrian produces ‘essential
evidence’ briefing papers relating to health and transport for Bristol City
Council. He continues to work on the implementation of 20mph speed limits in
Bristol, including a YouGov survey of British attitudes and reported behaviours
regarding 20mph, leading to three peer reviewed papers. He also led a review of
the evidence on academic attainment and physical activity, and the Traffic
Choices project.

Marcus is advisor to the World
Health Organisation (WHO) Europe Healthy Cities programme. He is on the
Scientific Committee for the international conference ‘Nature-Based Solutions
to Societal Challenges’ in Ghent, May 2015, where he is presenting and is co-investigator
on the Economic and Social Research Council network on re-thinking the evidence
base for planning and health. He is developing the built environment
professions’ understanding of health and the urban realm through his work on the
policy committee of the Landscape Institute.

Marcus and Adrian are both helping
WHO Europe to update their guidance for Age Friendly Cities.