Healthy City Design Congress Voices: Global perspectives, local impact: From Liverpool to Salford, Greater Manchester

The congress venue at the Lowry itself is a potent symbol: a derelict dockland site transformed into a vibrant art centre that has contributed to the wellbeing of the community for 25 years.

The Lowry is a part of MediaCity, built on the site of one of the world’s largest industrial ports, Manchester Docks, with a history stretching back 120 years. Adopting the same pioneering spirit that turned Salford and Manchester into global industrial leaders, MediaCity, is one of the UK’s most important hubs for innovation, creativity and global connections. Fully sustainable, its waterside location, culture and street life puts healthy living and wellbeing front and centre, making it the ideal destination for the congress.

Salford also sits within the framework of Greater Manchester, which, as a recent King’s Fund report¹ points out, has been a ‘poster child’ for health devolution in England. The journey Greater Manchester has been on towards more local, community- based control over health has significant lessons for impact investment, development and participatory design.

In this highlights video from last year’s 2024 HCD Congress in Liverpool, some of the world’s leading experts from policy, research, investment and practice, provide insights on the impact of the congress in Liverpool and expectations, hopes and aspirations for the congress in Salford and Greater Manchester.

We hear from HCD’s expert voices, including HCD co-founder, Prof Jeremy Myerson, and Salford’s director of public health, exploring the opportunities the congress creates to catalyse change and share research, knowledge and practice between Salford, Greater Manchester and cities around the world, on how to plan, build, invest in and develop healthier and more sustainable cities.

Supported by Salford City Council and MediaCity, the 9^th Healthy City Design 2025 International Congress, Awards & Exhibition is organised by SALUS Global Knowledge Exchange and the Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, in collaboration with Impact on Urban Health and Cities & Health Journal. This year’s congress will be held at the Lowry, MediaCity in Salford, Greater Manchester, from 14-15^th October.

1. Population health in Greater Manchester:The journey so far.The King’s Fund, October 2024.