Workshops bring public health, planning and place partners together in Knowsley and Cheshire West & Chester

Health Equalities Group (HEG) has recently delivered two place-based workshops exploring how the planning system can help create healthier places and support healthier weight outcomes.

The two-hour workshops were held with Knowsley Council and place partners on 7 July, followed by Cheshire West and Chester Council and local stakeholders on 8 July. Convened by HEG with expert support from the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), the workshops are part of a ‘planning for healthier weight environments’ workstream within the Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Obesity Project (funded by Cheshire and Merseyside Cancer Alliance).

Where people live can have a major influence on their health outcomes. Neighbourhood design can make it easier – or more difficult – to walk, cycle, use public transport, spend time in green spaces and access affordable, healthier food. The planning system – in particular development of new Local Plans – offers important opportunities to shape environments that support physical activity, healthier diets and improved wellbeing.

The workshops brought together planning, public health and wider place partners from statutory organisations and the VCFSE sector to explore how their roles, strategies and priorities influence health. Each council shared its local planning and public health context, while HEG highlighted practical tools and policy options for improving access to healthy, affordable and sustainable food.

During the workshops, planning experts from TCPA also explored how health can be embedded throughout Local Plan development through stronger evidence, early collaboration and clear policies on active travel, green infrastructure and healthier food environments.

The workshops were particularly timely in light of the Government’s August 2026 update to England’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which strengthens the role of planning in promoting health and reducing health inequalities. The NPPF update provides clearer policy support for active environments that prioritise walking, wheeling and access to recreation, alongside improved access to healthy food.

The events in July were the first of two workshops in each area. HEG and TCPA will now work with both councils to use participants’ feedback to shape tailored follow-up sessions in November 2026 which will explore locally identified priorities in greater depth and support practical action towards healthier, more equitable places.