Agenda item

Healthy New Towns

Presentation by Project Manager, Healthy New Towns

Minutes:

The Project Manager, Healthy New Towns gave a presentation on Healthy New Towns, a NHS England sponsored programme which was about building healthy communities.

It was reported that Darlington was one of ten healthy New Town sites across England and was the only one in the North East, with the initial focus of work being on the eastern growth zone, including Red Hall, Burdon Hill and Lingfield Point, which had been chosen because of the economic and housing development opportunities the area presented, along with the significant challenges in terms of health inequalities compared to the rest of Darlington.

 

The presentation covered the progress on the three workstreams within the programme of regeneration and housing, new models of care and digital empowerment, with particular reference being made to the regeneration and housing workstream and the work being undertaken to encourage the building of homes which met the lifetime home principles, enabling houses to be adapted to meet the changing needs of residents over their course, keeping them as independent as possible for as long as possible.

Discussion ensued on the links with the HNT initiative on the Red Hall Masterplan and the significant work on the Red Hall estate to improve the image and attractiveness of that estate, the community initiatives undertaken to date within that community and the partnership work with Keepmoat Homes for the development of the stables site that reflected the revised design principles of lifetime homes.

Members questioned the long-term sustainability of the project and it was reported that the third year of Healthy New Towns was continuing to focus on delivery but also on the legacy and influence of the programme going forward.

RESOLVED – That the thanks of this Scrutiny Committee be extended to the Project Manager, Healthy New Towns on her presentation.