News Article

Blueprint for action launched by the National Heart Forum

02 August 2007

Physical activity is essential to good health and helps prevent and manage avoidable chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, diabetes, certain forms of cancer, and obesity. But our lifestyles are becoming increasingly sedentary, and few Britons are active on a regular basis. Many transport and planning policies unintentionally contribute to this problem by building barriers to physical activity – such as prioritising cars before pedestrians and cyclists, and locating housing, shops, services and places where people work in areas virtually inaccessible without a car.



Building Health provides a blueprint for national and local policymakers, as well as planners, architects and transport professionals to design towns, cities and buildings that encourage physical activity. The report includes two publications, both of which can be found on the NHF website 



The main report, Building Health: Creating and enhancing places for healthy, active lives: What needs to be done? is a collection of papers written by leading experts and campaigners on how specific aspects of the built environment might be used to encourage physical activity. Papers address strategic and urban planning, streets and the public realm, walking and cycling, urban green space, outdoor playing space, and building design.


The Blueprint for Action, which includes an executive summary of the main report and outlines key steps that Government, local authorities and professional organisations should take to design activity-friendly communities.


The main Building Health report is available only as an electronic download, while the Blueprint for Action is available both by hard copy and download. If you would like a hard copy of the Blueprint for Action, or multiple copies to distribute to your members, please contact Dan French.