Community Health Partnerships (CHP) supports Clean Air Day (19 June 2025), reaffirming our commitment to improving air quality and safeguarding public health. As part of the NHS family, we understand that clean air is not just an environmental aspiration, but a fundamental pillar of a healthy nation and a key driver towards achieving a Greener NHS, reaching a Net Zero NHS by 2040. Our portfolio of 308 healthcare buildings serve as hubs for local communities, and we recognise our responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and actively contribute to cleaner, healthier air for patients, staff, and communities.
Air pollution is associated with between 29,000 and 43,000 deaths a year in the UK. The World Health Organization and the UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental threat to our health.
Where Does Our Air Pollution Come From?
Air pollutants are emitted from a range of sources; from everyday activities such as transport, industry, farming, energy generation and heating which use fossil fuels as their energy source.
Health effects of air pollution
Short term effects:
- worsening asthma
- coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
- stroke
- lung cancer
- COPD and other respiritory conditions
- cardiovascular disease
Key initiatives for 2025 and beyond include:
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Infrastructure: EV charging not only supports the transition to cleaner transport but also empowers staff, patients, and visitors to make sustainable travel choices, directly reducing vehicle emissions in the areas surrounding our health care buildings. We are actively working with LIFTCos and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) to ensure these installations meet local needs and maximise impact.
Read: Community Health Partnerships installs Electric Vehicle Chargers at St Oswalds Community Hospital - Promoting Active and Sustainable Travel: We continue to champion active travel options such as walking and cycling. Working with local authorities and NHS partners, we are enhancing cycling infrastructure and providing secure bike storage at our buildings. Many of our health centres are strategically located with excellent public transport links.
- Optimising Building Performance for Reduced Emissions:
Targeting sites with high energy consumption, the technical services team have continued their drive for energy efficiency and optimising building performance across CHP’s property portfolio. These efforts directly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, leading to cleaner air. CHP partners with LIFTCos to understand their Net Zero goals and ensure alignment and progression with our own goals. - Collaborative Sustainability Partnerships: We are committed to fostering strong partnerships with our LIFTCo teams, tenants, and ICSs. By providing resources, expertise, and support, we empower all stakeholders to contribute to shared sustainability goals, including the reduction of air pollution.
- Enhancing Green Spaces and Biodiversity: Recognising the vital role of nature in mitigating air pollution, CHP is committed to expanding green spaces and promoting biodiversity across our estate, including supporting community gardening initiatives and social prescribing initiatives that support local eco-systems.
Promoting biodiversity to improve air quality
At CHP we are actively improving air quality at our sites through enhancing and increasing nature habitats and green spaces. Green space effectively reduce air pollution by acting as a natural filter of pollutants and releasing oxygen. The majority of CHP 300+ sites are located in highly populated, urban areas where levels of air pollution are high. By taking action to improve air quality, we are using our buildings to further support the health and wellbeing of local communities and the supporting the environment.
Biodiversity and green space projects include:
- Pentorr Health Community Garden, Cornwall
Penntorr Health’s Wellbeing Garden Wins Prestigious NHS Forest Award (November 2024) - Foxhill Medical Centre, Sheffield
CHP supports a social prescribing gardening project at Foxhill Medical Centre, Sheffield (March 2023) - Princes Park Health Centre, Liverpool
Princes Park Blooms: New Health Garden Cultivates Community Wellbeing in Liverpool (June 2025) - Eco Therapy Garden by Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre, Kirkby, Merseyside
Funding boost from Community Health Partnerships for Eco Therapy Garden by Tower Hill Primary Care Resource Centre, Kirkby, Merseyside (June 2025)
As well as increasing green space across our properties, we are also reducing air pollution through promoting and supporting low carbon travel, reducing reliance on fossil fuels for heating and as a primary energy source and working with our supply chain to ensure they are taking action to reduce emissions through delivery of goods and services
CHP Tenants: Helping you to reach your sustainability goals
CHP supports our tenants in their sustainability efforts, including supporting the introduction of EV charging points. We offer a range of resources and expertise to help you, including identifying areas for improvement and implementing sustainable solutions. CHP’s Sustainability Team is here to assist you on your journey towards a more sustainable future. Together, we can make a significant contribution to a Greener NHS.
Please contact the Sustainability Team sustainability@communityhealthparternships.co.uk and your local Property and Operations team for further information.
Sustainability at CHP
As part of the NHS family, CHP supports the NHS ambition to deliver the world’s first net zero health system. Sustainable Facilities are one of our five strategic aims and Sustainability is one of our four corporate social responsibility pillars. Aligning with the NHS target of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2040, the team at CHP are committed to achieve Net Zero Carbon for the LIFT estate by 2040 and 2030 for our corporate functions.
