Roadmap for healthy high streets published

Shape high streets in a way which actively encourages healthy behaviours, says report

High streets can – and should – be improving our health. But right now, they're not, according to a new report from the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH). They have set out a roadmap for every local authority to put in places the facilities and services which are needed to ensure that their high streets not only thrive, but support the local population to do the same.

For us, healthy places includes healthy high streets. We need to be ambitious for our high streets and that ambition to be backed up by action. This landmark new report sets out a roadmap for change at a national and local level,’ says William Roberts, Chief Executive, RSPH.

Better public transport links, supporting active travel and making it easy for everyone to get around through the inclusive street design are highlighted as key recommendations.

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RSPH are partners at the Transport and Health event 2025 on 1 October. Apply for a funded delegate ticket now..

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The report lists five key recommendations:

1. Local authorities should publish high street action plans, setting out a lead to implement the Healthy High Streets framework.

2. National Government should legislate for a statutory duty to cooperate with local authorities in creating healthy high streets as a condition of approval for private development on or around high streets.

3. Developers should consider health outcomes as well as economic outcomes when putting together proposals for regeneration.

4. Businesses and the government should consider offering further training and support for staff working on the high street, so that they are skilled to assist colleagues and high street visitors with their health and wellbeing.

5. Government should equalise the tax burden between in-person and remote retailers, using the dividends from this to fund improvements to our high streets.

Says RSPH: “The report brings together the expertise of the public health, planning, and business communities to set out a roadmap for every local authority to put in place the facilities and services which are needed to ensure that their high streets not only thrive, but support the local population to do the same.”