NHS Property Services’ Town Planning team has merged with HUDU (NHS Healthy Urban Development Unit) this month.

The Healthy Urban Development Unit (HUDU) was established to create healthy sustainable communities, working with local and national organisations. Their work focussed on influencing the planning and health agendas and integrating health into national, regional and local planning policy.

As part of wider NHS strategic objectives, HUDU and its staff transferred into the NHS Property Services town planning team on 1 July 2026. This transition builds on and expands the NHSPS town planning team, which is already the largest dedicated professional town planning team in the NHS. 

Winners of the 2022 & 2024 RTPI In-house Planning Team of the Year Awards, NHSPS’ team of 23 town planners directly oversees town planning matters for the NHSPS portfolio in nearly every local planning authority in England, and, also, directly represents ICBs on town planning matters for more than 40 per cent of the population in England.

Aahsan Rahman, Head of Town Planning at NHS Property Services, said: 

“I’m delighted to welcome new colleagues into the team and the integration of HUDU into the NHSPS town planning team further strengthens NHS town planning capabilities.”