The campaign to transform the way the built environment is regulated
Too many homes and neighbourhoods built today undermine residents’ health and wellbeing. Standards for new homes and places are fragmented, complex and do not guarantee that all new homes provide for residents’ basic human needs, such as access to green space and local services, and clean air.
Some homes, built through Permitted Development, lack full planning scrutiny and are exposed to loopholes in building regulations. Thousands of flats have been produced in ageing office blocks and isolated industrial estates – and are being used to house the most vulnerable in society. These truly are ‘slums of the future’ (as shown in our photobook ‘These are homes’).
A national campaign
Working with Lord Nigel Crisp (a cross-bench peer and ex-Chief Executive of the NHS for England) and other parliamentarians, the TCPA developed the Healthy Homes Bill . This legislation aimed to simplify the regulation of the built environment and end the creation of unhealthy homes by introducing legally binding Healthy Homes Principles.
We disagree with those who are calling for further deregulation. And we believe that house building should put people before profits. In 2024, the TCPA launched the Healthy Homes Pledge. Organisations from across the built environment sector have pledged their support and demanded to see clear political commitment to ensure that all new homes are healthy and secure and that more genuinely affordable homes are built.
A local campaign
The TCPA has worked with councils and communities to explore different ways the Healthy Homes Principles can be used as a framework for improving the quality of new development in their area. Our technical guide explains why and how the Principles can be applied in local policy and practice.
Archive
View campaign resources, including reports.
Blogs
Read blogs from the TCPA and campaign supporters.
Updates
View the monthly campaign updates and announcements.
Healthy Homes Principles
We identified 12 Healthy Homes Principles that set a benchmark for new homes.
Healthy Homes Pledge
We are calling for the built environment sector to commit to the Healthy Homes Pledge.
See which businesses, charities and organisations support our Healthy Homes Principles
The Healthy Homes Campaign is supported by:
Resources
Speaking up for healthy homes
Individuals and organisations from across the built environment and public health sectors are speaking up in support of healthy homes and neighbourhoods.
Permitted development to support the provision of new homes: Scotland consultation response
This briefing outlines the TCPA's concerns that extending Permitted Development Rights for conversion to housing undermines health outcomes.
Healthy Homes fact checker
This fact sheet dispels the claims from certain house builders that having higher standards for new homes costs more and slows down housing delivery.
Securing Healthy Homes at the local level
The TCPA has produced a technical guide which explains in detail why and how the Healthy Homes Principles can be applied in local policy and practice.
Lords Briefing: Healthy Homes and Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, October 2023
This briefing outlines a compromise Healthy Homes amendment during the ping pong stage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.
We invite peers to support the amendment, as the last chance to get any reference to the positive promotion of health and wellbeing in the Bill.
Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill: a briefing for MPs
Supporting Healthy Homes for better lives briefing on the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill for MPs.
Healthy Homes special – TCPA Journal
This September-October 2023 issue of Town & Country Planning contains a special section on the Healthy Homes Campaign, including an update on the campaign’s progress in influencing the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, and an interview with Lord Nigel Crisp and Policy Director Hugh Ellis.
Expanding Permitted Development Rights
This response outlines why TCPA is strongly opposed to the radical deregulation of the planning system proposed in this Government consultation.
Healthy Homes Principles
A helpful infographic listing the twelve Healthy Homes Principles.
These are Homes photobook
As a part of our Healthy Homes campaign, the TCPA commissioned photographer Rob Clayton to capture some of the realities of ‘homes’ created through Permitted Development Rights (PDR).
Healthy Homes Campaign- Updates
Rapid-fire news and updates from the TCPA's campaign for Healthy Homes
Blogs in support of Healthy Homes
Since its launch, the Healthy Homes Act has attracted support from businesses, charities and organisations, endorsing our Healthy Homes Act principles. Read some of their blogs in support of the campaign.
The Healthy Homes Bill
Healthy Home Bill documents with explanatory notes
No place for placemaking
This report explores the devastating impacts that Permitted Development (PD) rights have had on placemaking over the past seven years.
