INVESTMENT AND DESIGN
accessible and within established town centres and high streets, it is delivering a clear economic benefit as well as better healthcare outcomes for individuals. The ongoing devolution of the country’s cities and regions presents a unique opportunity to align healthcare delivery with regional growth strategies and build on the kind of success we’ve seen with the Gateshead CDC. As elected mayors gain greater control over budgets and planning, integrating health into their agendas becomes essential. The NHS Confederation’s July 2025 briefing paper advocated for aligning Integrated Care Board (ICB) boundaries with regional authorities, and for including elected mayors on ICB governance boards. This would ensure that health is not treated as a siloed service, but as a core component of regional development.
Improving population health Moreover, the new Health Duty on regional authorities requires them to consider how their actions can improve population health and reduce inequalities. This aligns perfectly with broader goals of increasing local investment, boosting employment, and enhancing community wellbeing. Put simply, when health is embedded in regional planning, we create a virtuous cycle: healthier populations are more productive, more engaged, and more resilient – and that resilience translates into economic strength. Nowhere is that more evident than on the high street, but in too many towns and cities the opposite is true. The decline of UK high streets is a visible symptom of deeper social and economic challenges. In 2024, 13,500 stores closed, which is an average of 37 per day and the forecast for 2025 is even worse, with
17,350 closures expected. This erosion of community hubs impacts job security, local economies, and our collective sense of belonging. Healthcare estates can play a pivotal role in reversing
this trend. By locating health facilities in community settings such as underused retail spaces, we can breathe life back into struggling areas. These facilities not only provide essential services but also attract footfall, support local businesses, and foster a sense of place, the Gateshead CDC being a prime example. There are of course initiatives in place now which are in place to drive projects that deliver on economic as well as health-based outcomes. One such examples is the Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme which offers a number of valuable lessons.
Located in a vacant House of Fraser retail space, Gateshead Metrocentre Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC), is a newly transformed space for diagnostic appointments.
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Technology for those who care
October 2025 Health Estate Journal 117
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