News

Evaluating the impact of urban regeneration

PHR news item, 11 August 2011

A new study evaluating the impact of urban regeneration to discover its' effect on health inequalities has been funded by the NIHR PHR programme.

The links between social factors and health have been well documented. The 2010 Marmot Review, an independent review chaired by Sir Michael Marmot, stated that up to 2.5 million years of potential life are lost in the UK each year through premature deaths caused by health inequality. This is a consequence of social inequalities such as employment levels and poverty.

Regeneration will bring improved transport infrastructure, employment opportunities, public parks and open space; and leisure and recreation facilities to the area. The study will evaluate the impact of these developments on the physical and mental health of young people and their families, by comparing areas that are due to be regenerated with areas that have not had comparable regeneration schemes agreed.

The research led by Dr Steven Cummins from Queen Mary, University of London, will compare Stratford and the London Borough of Newham - both scheduled for regeneration, with Tower Hamlets, Hackney and Barking & Dagenham – where no comparable regeneration has been planned. Participants in all areas will be contacted before the regeneration takes place and then at six and 18 months after it has been completed. The study will identify the gradual changes that occur in terms of health and wellbeing, and will investigate how these impacts are distributed across all sectors of the community. The sustainability of these outcomes will also be assessed.

Dr Cummins noted that "The intervention will be successful if improvements in health and health inequalities in the regeneration area are greater than those in comparison areas. If health problems can be prevented by giving communities more opportunities and more choice, the impact on policy making and the NHS will be extensive."

The results of the research are expected in 2015. Please visit the project page for details.

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Notes to editors

Marmot, M. (2010) The Marmot Review: Fair Society, Healthy Lives. Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in England post-2010. London, The Marmot Review

http://www.marmotreview.org/AssetLibrary/pdfs/Reports/FairSocietyHealthyLives.pdf