Last month thousands of people descended on Leeds for the UKREiiF investment and infrastructure festival. Colleagues from the NHS Confederation appeared on several panels to highlight a broad range of examples of joined-up thinking and working in high streets, education campuses and neighbourhoods.

The economic and social potential of the NHS as an anchor institution should go without saying. The NHS has a significant procurement budget, is the second largest public landowner, often the largest employer, and a driver of innovation. The opportunity is reciprocal; the health service needs local government and other agencies to make their contribution to health promotion and prevention.