The importance of a safe, good quality, secure, and affordable home is fundamental to living a healthy and fulfilled life. As place and system leaders across the East of England, it is incumbent on us to join up the dots between different organisations and services working to support communities’ intrinsically linked housing and health needs. This joint report from the East of England LGA and IMPOWER consultancy, developed in partnership with Public Health East of England and the East of England All Party Parliamentary Group, helpfully sets out Guiding Principles and a Call to Action to help our Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) achieve a system wide approach to health and housing. This collaboration reflects a collective commitment to drive forward this agenda.

Inspired by the opportunities that ICSs bring for greater integration, just over two years after becoming statutory bodes, this report draws on the strength of existing partnerships already joining up efforts on housing and health at a local and regional level to reduce health inequalities particularly in areas of deprivation across the East of England. Local councils play a key role in building healthy inclusive communities. As partners in Integrated Care Systems, there has been huge appetite from councils to engage in this report and share learning across different organisations and with Government. At the heart of this report, building on the Hewitt Review of ICSs, is a shared focus on local councils and the wider housing, health and voluntary sectors working together to consider how housing contributes to improved health outcomes.

Our report is published following the Government’s consultation on its 10-year plan for the NHS in light of the Darzi report which suggested not enough money has been invested in preventative health services. Housing is a key enabler to help shift the focus of the NHS from “sickness to prevention” and “hospital to community”. The report is timely and recognises health as a driver for economic growth. As set out in our previous Opportunity East report, improving the housing and health of communities in our region will help us to unlock our full economic potential which will in turn reap benefits for the UK. What this report does, is provide a vital tool and impetus for Integrated Care Systems, as self-improving systems, to embed housing throughout their strategies and plans in a way that is long-term and sustainable. There is much to learn from the good work going on across the region.

Now is the time to build on this momentum. We would like to extend our thanks to IMPOWER consultancy for supporting us with this report, local councils who have helped shape this report during our roundtables and with a special thanks to the Task and Finish Group, the EELGA People and Communities Panel, and our partners Public Health East of England and the East of England All Party Parliamentary Group. We look forward to collaborating with these partners and Government to improve the living conditions and life chances for communities right across the East of England.

Cllr Jacqui Taylor

East of England LGA Lead member for housing and homelessness, Housing Portfolio Holder St Albans District Council