Health on the Highstreet
LK2, a pioneering practice in sports, leisure, and commercial retail for thirty years, has been at the forefront of a mindset shift and the merger of sports leisure, health, and wellbeing. Their innovative approach is leading the charge as retail and commercial areas begin to morph and Health on the High Street becomes a tangible reality.
LK2 has faced challenges head-on for decades, embracing innovation and collaboration to drive social value across various sectors. Their inclusive approach, appreciative of the mutual benefits for developers, retail owners/operators, and health providers, has joined the dots and acted as a planning and political pivot in repurposing redundant buildings, using the integration of new and existing uses.
Lord Darzi’s report (September 2024) casts little doubt on the state of our NHS, a service with unrivalled clinical talent but needing reform, realignment, and re-engagement. LK2 strives to redefine the possible, uncovering opportunities and collaborations that will serve as a ground-breaking development for us all…. Health on the High Street!
In recent months, Sport England has advocated for a place-based ecosystem for physical activity, and UK Active has convened senior decision-makers to discuss how best to embed physical activity into health strategies. It is clear momentum is building for a reimagined NHS with societal well-being and sustainability at its heart.
In this article, LK2 Director Andy Newman discusses the benefits of the so-called ‘Health Hubs’, which are comprehensive health and wellness centre’s that bring together a range of health services that are both co-dependant and independent in one location. He answers the question: Can we create a sustainable world where the high street, health, and social care coexist?
“In short, we absolutely can, and we should.
“The decline of high street units provides an excellent infrastructure for highly accessible health care provision in the heart of our community. An infrastructure with long leases and strong covenants provides a sustainable proposition, operationally and environmentally.
“In this new vision, planned and elective care will be undertaken away from hospital sites, reducing waiting list pressure. This will allow for earlier diagnostics, including X-rays, pharmacy, and out-of-hours GP surgeries. It will also, importantly, bring accessible health back to the community. Yet, at its urban heart, will be an infrastructure that can cope with a sector-wide increase in virtual and digital services.
“By repositioning the elective care services, we can relieve the pressure on hospital sites, enabling them to prioritise primary care and freeing up valuable space for secondary care. This can also break the stigma of hospital visits for younger visitors, providing a less clinical and local experience.
“For me, health benefits on the high street are two-fold.
“The NHS can be the catalyst of regeneration for the High Street, and the co-location of community services addresses the public health emergency and allows for a model where practitioners across the health and social care sphere can work at scale to deliver a prevention agenda.
“Health on the High Street places the emphasis not on treatment, but on supporting the wider determinants of public health.”
“What we are working towards is a care collective for health care. However, the ‘Health hub’ concept is not new.
“In our 30 years of operation, LK2 has worked with leading retail/commercial owners, sport and leisure operators, advisors, and developers to find the solutions others can’t. Developing a vast portfolio of sector experience and specialisms including sport and leisure, education, health and wellness, town centre regeneration and repurposing retail premises.
“LK2 are experienced in delivering multi-functional environments, including co-location of commercially driven and complimentary ancillary facilities.
Our creative yet commercially minded team has helped clients unlock hidden opportunities, optimise their investment, and deliver successful developments, often integrating health and wellbeing within and adjacent to existing leisure offerings.
“We have delivered feasibility studies for a multi-disciplinary health care hub for a private health provider in a city centre location. This Highstreet care collective will include primary and secondary care along with a residential care unit. We have also delivered feasibility studies for a care collective within a university campus, a model that follows Sport England’s eco-system of place and embeds health into the university’s physical activity strategy.
“Other projects include achieving planning approval for an outpatient, surgical centre, including residential/recovery in an Enterprise Park, and a further administrative office for the diagnosis and referrals of mental health and neurodevelopment disorders, for a private provider to the NHS- this is now in use.”
“We have an impressive track record for being a catalyst for change. Our blended mindset and experience in sport, leisure, and town regeneration, coupled with our commercial and urban design expertise and political awareness enables us to provide a highly experienced and collaborative approach.
To discover how LK2 can help you uncover the potential in a project get in touch.