Health project research funding awarded to Real Estate and Planning at Henley Business School

Research funding of £247,168 has been awarded to Professor Kathy Pain from Real Estate and Planning (REP) at Henley Business School as one of the partners for a five-year health project.

The project, titled Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development, involves six universities and was granted £6,464,154.13 from the Medical Research Council.

It will investigate how to tackle future major chronic health problems such as lung and heart disease, diabetes and mental health problems associated with poor quality urban environments including air pollution, noise, lack of physical activity, lack of green space, and obesity, by incorporating risk factors into urban planning and development in the UK.

The multidisciplinary study will explore how the complex system of urban planning, business, investment, development and government actors can improve the urban environment to encourage healthy behaviours and reduce adverse risks.

To ensure effectiveness and impact it will be co-produced with a wide range of stakeholders including public, private, third sector and the general public. The aim is to transform urban planning and development systems so that long term health is valued and integrated at the main roots of core decision-making.

The main grant holder for the project is the University of Bristol, with Bath, Cardiff, Manchester and the University of the West of England also working alongside Henley.