Earlier this month, Planning Director, Jess Wilson, joined an NLA webinar, to discuss how the high street might adapt to integrate essential health and wellbeing facilities, to serve the local community, economy and place? She shares her thoughts on the opportunities and challenges of this.
Back in 2020, with the Covid-19 pandemic creating a need for rapid adaptation and adjustment, we worked with an NHS Trust to provide emergency situation healthcare in non-traditional spaces. Working with the London-based Trust, we secured premises for around 15 vaccination centres in just 2 months, requiring close collaboration with a number of London boroughs. This showed that in an emergency situation there is a clear ability to introduce health uses into ‘non-health’ buildings, from London’s Science Museum, to leisure centres, libraries and offices. Perhaps there are some positives that we can take forward into a less emergency/ urgent setting?
Covid Vaccination Centre – London Science Museum
The declining high street is something we hear a lot – stark, empty and as a result, there is no reason for people to visit. Historically a successful high street needed a flagship retail brand to stimulate growth, but as our behaviours change, perhaps it is a health facility that can now be that anchor to encourage visitors and activity in a space.
Wood Green’s Integrated Hub offers a fresh approach to tackling healthcare, while being the driving force behind re-energising and revitalising the local high street. Healthcare accessibility has been improved through the introduction of a Moorfields diagnostic unit at Brent Cross Shopping Centre. This is an innovative approach to healthcare, allowing people to receive medical attention in familiar surroundings, reducing potential anxieties associated with visiting traditional health settings.
The Whittington Hospital Campus
The NHS is proactively addressing raising concerns around mental health care by constructing facilities that shift away from traditional hospital designs, such as the new facility at the Whittington Hospital. A public facing entrance and café area encourages an atmosphere free of any stigma associated with seeking help for these issues – a vital step to improving access to these much needed services.
Embracing the potential of alternative healthcare delivery spaces, such as shops and offices, does present challenges. From complicated lease structures, to access and operating hour issues captured in planning conditions, it is essential that we remain mindful of these when navigating this area. Yet, despite the obstacles, there are clear opportunities which can arise from increasing flexibility in our approach to providing health care – which could align with other development aspirations for our high streets and beyond.
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