The built environment is inextricably linked to
health and wellbeing across the life course.
The design, quality and accessibility of buildings has a profound impact on health, safety and health-related behaviour of occupants1.
Poor standard of buildings negatively affects the health and wellbeing of children, adults and older adults. The risk of asthma and other respiratory conditions have been shown to increase among children living in damp houses2. Accessibility of buildings is a necessity for older adults to remain active and independent3, yet it has been reported that in 2015, a fifth of dwellings (4.6 million homes) failed to meet the Decent Homes Standard4.
Findings from this review strengthens the argument for improved housing quality and provision of affordable homes and social housing to vulnerable groups.
1 Allen, J.G., MacNaughton, P., Laurent, J.G.C., Flanigan, S.S., Eitland, E.S. and Spengler, J.D., (2015). Green buildings and health. Current envi[1]ronmental health reports, 2(3), pp.250-258.
2 Scottish Government (2011). Good Places Better Health for Scotland’s Children. Childhood Asthma Evidence Assessment. Edinburgh: Scottish Government
3 British Medical Association (2003). Housing and Health: Building for the Future. London England
4 Department for Communities and Local Government (2017) English Housing Survey: Headline Report 2015–2016
