Neighbourhood Health Hubs and a range of other public and private health services could prove to be the keys to high street and town centre regeneration, according to Radix Big Tent.

The think tank is launching a new project to bring community health on to the UK’s high streets, both to improve public health and act as a catalyst for regeneration.

Ben Rich, Radix Big Tent Chief Executive, said: “There is widespread political agreement that putting health services at the heart of communities is a good idea. And yet, despite this consensus, progress is glacial.

“Why? Because the system designed to deliver this is stuck in neutral. Speaking with senior leaders from the NHS and private health providers, local government, private investment and regeneration, what becomes clear is that there is not a lack of ambition, but a wall of institutional and systemic inertia that prevents change. The purpose of this commission is to identify and produce policies to remove the friction points that stall delivery.”

The cross-sector Commission plans to report within twelve months and the commissioners are eager, in addition to conducting desk research and commissioning original research, to hear evidence from and learn from successful examples of delivering health on the high street across the country.

The commission will be chaired by author, designer and place-strategist, Professor Ibrahim Ibrahim of Sidara’s Portland Design, with the independent commission comprising experts from investment, planning, place-making, national and local government, and public and private health care.