TRANSPORT, PLANNING AND HEALTH 2026
Key policy directions are increasingly linking transport, planning and health around a healthy places agenda, where transport is no longer treated simply as mobility infrastructure, but as a public health, spatial planning and economic inclusion tool.
Transport, planning and health 2026, now in its sixth successful year, will bring together leaders and practitioners from across transport, public health, planning and policy, active travel and communications to chart an evidence-based path towards the creation of connected and healthy communities across the UK.
Transport policy is health policy.
The way we plan and deliver transport schemes has a direct impact on public health. Cleaner air reduces respiratory illness. Safer streets encourage children to walk to school with confidence. Reliable public transport keeps older residents active and connected. When transport decisions prioritise health, the benefits are clear : reduced inequalities, stronger communities and more people leading active lives. That is why health must sit at the centre of transport planning because every journey shapes the future of public health.
Sir Peter Soulsby, City Mayor,
Leicester City Council
WHAT'S GOING TO BE DISCUSSED
Through keynote addresses, panel discussions and practical breakout sessions, the conference will explore how we move beyond isolated interventions towards collaborative working between public health practitioners, planning authorities, transport authorities and the NHS.
It will examine what works, how to deliver change in a challenging political and funding environment, and how professionals can better collaborate to turn ambition into reality.
Walking, wheeling and cycling are some of the most effective ways to improve our health, and they also form the backbone of a stronger, more connected transport system. When we make active travel safe and accessible, we help people build healthier routines, support local growth and give our children greater independence.
Rob Howard, Director of Public Health, Leicester City Council
THIS EVENT WILL EXPLORE HOW THE HEALTHY PLACES AGENDA CAN BE DELIVERED
UK policy is shifting towards the idea that transport, planning and public health should no longer be treated as separate silos.
Place-based policymaking is replacing mode-based transport planning
There is a shift away from simply delivering transport infrastructure toward creating healthier, more liveable places. The new DfT strategy Better Connected: a strategy for integrated transport explicitly frames transport around people rather than modes, better-connected places, partnership-based delivery and accessibility and wellbeing outcomes rather than traffic movement alone.
Integrated transport is a social policy agenda
The new integrated transport agenda is broader than ticketing and interchange. Current policy thinking increasingly links transport integration with employment access, housing, local economic planning, healthcare access, educational opportunity, social equity and rural inclusion.
Climate resilience and health resilience are converging
Climate adaptation, resilience, health and transport planning are increasingly being linked together. Recent UK transport policy discussions increasingly focus on heat resilience, air quality, flood-resilient transport systems, greener streets, urban cooling and resilient walking/cycling networks.
Building on the Bristol Declaration
The Bristol Declaration calls for the transformation of the UK to a place where healthy transport options are the easiest, natural choice for most everyday journeys, without relying on a car. It was organised by Scarlett McNally, a keynote speaker at the Transport and Health event in Bristol in October 2025, and was signed by event speakers working in the transport, public health, planning and road danger reduction sectors – many thanks to those who contributed. It is now being taken forward by the Faculty of Public Health.
Health is increasingly being treated as a transport outcome
Streets are public health infrastructure. Transport is no longer seen purely as a mobility system. Instead, transport policy is increasingly expected to reduce obesity and inactivity, improve mental wellbeing, reduce air pollution exposure, tackle loneliness and social isolation, improve access to healthcare and healthy food and reduce health inequalities.
Planning reform is increasingly tied to healthy growth
The planning reform agenda is no longer only about accelerating housing delivery. Emerging policy suggests that new development should embed active travel from the start, reduce car dependency, support public transport viability, improve public realm quality and create healthier neighbourhoods. Evidence submitted to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill process strongly emphasised active travel and public health outcomes.
A shift from predict and provide to accessibility and wellbeing
Appraisal methodology is shifting. Traditional UK transport appraisal focused heavily on journey time savings, traffic flow and congestion reduction, while new directions increasingly value accessibility, quality of place, health outcomes, equity, social value, wellbeing and emissions reduction. The emerging policy language increasingly asks: "What kind of place are we trying to create?" rather than: "How do we move more vehicles faster?"
Call for papers
If you have a suggestion for a presentation, demonstration or a workshop, please email the details,
in no more than 250 words to
Juliana O'Rourke. Please include talk title, description, speaker details and email address.
