Our surroundings play a big role in shaping our health. And some neighbourhoods – including so-called ‘left behind areas’ – can be tough places to live, with limited economic opportunity, low levels of social mobility and social capital, and poorer health. All this contributes to people in the most deprived areas on average living 19 fewer years in good health than people in the least deprived. 

The government is pursuing a range of initiatives to boost the fortunes of deprived neighbourhoods, including a national plan for neighbourhoods, extending devolution and directing more infrastructure investment towards struggling areas. But has government understood the value of social capital in rebuilding communities? What are the lessons of past government initiatives focused on neighbourhood renewal and left behind communities? And can the concept of ‘neighbourhood health’ help to improve health and reduce entrenched inequalities? 

To discuss, our Chief Executive Dr Jennifer Dixon is joined by:

Hilary Armstrong, Chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON), and former New Labour cabinet minister and MP for North West Durham.

Andrew O’Brien, Head of Secretariat at ICON.

ICON (2025). ICON’s Neighbourhood Policy Green Paper – Delivering Neighbourhood Renewal: Proposals for Change.

ICON (2025). Anatomy of mission critical neighbourhoods. 

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2025). Plan for Neighbourhoods. 

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2025). Trailblazer neighbourhoods. 

Collier P (2024). Left Behind: A New Economics for Neglected Places. 

Health Foundation (2024). Sure Start: a model for long-term policymaking? – with Naomi Eisenstadt and Donna Molloy. 

Health Foundation (2021). The government’s levelling up agenda: An opportunity to improve health in England.