Tackling Root Causes Upstream of Unhealthy Urban Development (TRUUD)

TRUUD is a consortium comprising researchers at six different Universities (University of Bristol- UoB, University of Bath- UoBath, University of the West of England- UWE, University of Reading- UoR, University of Manchester- UoM, University of Stirling - UoS), as well as researchers-in-residence (RiR) seconded to Bristol City Council (BCC) and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

Our main aim is to work with decision makers and communities to prioritise health in urban decision-making processes. We are particularly focused on how non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can be prevented by changing the way that urban development decisions are made. NCDs are illnesses that cannot be passed from person to person. There has been a lot of research that have proven links between NCDs and the urban environment. We are focusing on major new infrastructure and transport systems in our case study areas of Bristol and Greater Manchester. We are working with senior decision-makers, related stakeholders (including community partners), and advisors at national, regional and city level. With them, we will identify where the most influence on decision-makers lies (e.g. land disposal, procurement, regulation, economics), then develop and test ways to prioritise health. We are also exploring the existing decision-making system (for example, the role of economic valuation in decision-making, alternative decision and valuation mechanisms, legal mechanisms such as Social Value Act). We are working to understand the blockages in the current system that can prevent health being a priority when decisions are made about developments in our urban environment (e.g. corporate structures, values, incentives). We plan to produce a decision-support framework that will outline and work within the limitations of the decision-making system. We will also incorporate targeted industry-driven improvements to existing processes alongside these decision-support tools.