We’re delighted to launch the Preliminary Programme for the 7th Healthy City Design 2023 International Congress & Exhibition. Taking place in-person at the Royal College of Physicians’ northern headquarters at The Spine, in Liverpool, the Congress will be the first to be hosted outside of London, in addition to being live streamed through our virtual online event platform. 

The Healthy City Design 2023 (HCD 2023) International Congress is a global forum for the exchange of knowledge on the research, policy and practice of designing healthy and sustainable cities and communities. This year’s plenary theme is ‘Urban renewal and health equity: Charting a sustainable path locally and globally’.
  
Congress attendees will develop their knowledge of the political and economic context, emerging practice, latest research findings, skills and core competencies in designing, planning and commissioning city services, technology and infrastructure, project management, and the evidence base for environmentally responsible urban planning, design and public health. 

The Congress is organised by SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange in collaboration with the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, an internationally renowned research hub in the field of inclusive design. 

Urban renewal and health equity: Charting a sustainable path locally and globally

Urban policymakers, planners and practitioners keen to chart a path to sustainable development must link the local and global – activating measures that improve the lives of citizens and reduce health inequalities while addressing the wider impacts of planetary health. 

This interplay between local regeneration and global climate resilience has been termed ‘climate-resilient development’ in the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. This identifies climate-resilient development as key to securing a healthier future for all and calls on cities to raise their game as leading protagonists in creating a more sustainable world. 

But how can cities walk the delicate line between people health and planetary health? How can they chart a more sustainable path that meets both local and global needs? These are some of the questions that HCD 2023 will seek to address.

Bridging the gap between research, policy and practice

HCD 2023 is a global forum for the exchange of knowledge on the research, policy and practice of designing healthy and sustainable cities and communities. 

Each day will open and close with keynote plenary sessions before splitting up into four streams (eight in total). Day one will focus on: Population health; Design across the life course; Smart and inclusive cities and mobility; and Work and workplace. Day two will cover: Urban design, planning and public realm; Planetary health; Health-creating communities; and Social value and resilience. 

Enriching the oral presentations and discussions, the event will host a Video + Poster gallery of innovative research and projects, along with a knowledge-focused exhibition of design solutions for cities, communities and workplaces. The Congress organisers are also delighted to invite participants to join the programme committee for an Evening Networking Dinner at the historic Merseyside Maritime Museum in the Royal Albert Dock on Monday 16 October. 

All sessions will be streamed virtually for delegates unable to attend in person. 

Tickets and registration

Go to page 23 of the Preliminary Programme for details of delegate ticket prices and options, or view the online page here. Hotel rates are available on page 22 of the Programme and are available until 17 September.