Few people working in local authorities would argue with the need or ambition to improve people's quality of life, or how important our homes and neighbourhoods are to our health and wellbeing. The pandemic has exposed the huge impact of the built environment on our quality of life and the vast inequalities that can result – from the amount of space we have to our relationship with our neighbours, or the provision of local shops and services.

But while recognising the growing evidence around health and wellbeing and the built environment, how can local authorities ensure that future homes improve, rather than diminish, people's health and wellbeing? How can we make neighbourhoods that make people healthier and happier in the long-term?