The Healthy City Design 2022 (HCD 2022) International Congress & Exhibition is being hosted in London to provide a global forum for the exchange of knowledge on the research, policy and practice of designing healthy and sustainable cities and communities.

The sixth edition of the event kicked off yesterday and is focused on the following question: how can designing for inclusion, diversity and social equity support healthier lives in a thriving urban realm?

The goal is for attendees to develop their knowledge of the political, social and economic context, new policy directions, emerging practices, latest research findings and skills and core competencies in designing, planning and commissioning city services, technology, infrastructure and developing real estate that improve people and planetary health.

The HCD 2022 is being hosted on 10-11 October both virtually and in-person at London’s Royal College of Physicians – for the first time since the pandemic. Each day will open and close with keynote plenary sessions before splitting up into four streams (eight in total).

Day one focused on homes and neighbourhoods; population health; planetary health; and transport and mobility. As part of this, James Mark – UK COO of thermal wellbeing organisation and developer Therme Group – contributed to a panel conversation on the 'Green and blue cities are growing social capital'.

Therme has become an established name in the spa and wellness sector after announcing plans to create a 28-acre flagship wellbeing resort in Manchester, UK – costing £250m (US$287.6m, €299m). It's also submitted planning permission for a similar Scottish destination in Glasgow and plans to realise sites in Canada and Germany, as well as introducing urban wellbeing centres to five US cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Day two of HCD 2022 (taking place today) will cover urban design, planning and public realm; smart cities, work and workplace; inclusive and accessible design; and designing for young and old.

The agenda includes a selection of global speakers and keynotes including:

• Carlos Dora MD – president, International Society for Urban Health, Switzerland.• Nathalie Laure Roebbel PhD – unit head, urban health, World Health Organization, Switzerland.

• Dr Montira Pongsiri, PhD, MpH – senior advisor, climate change and health, Save the Children, USA.• Lord Nigel Crisp – author and independent crossbench member, House of Lords, UK

• Lord Richard Best – member, House of Lords, UK.• Prof Rachel Cooper OBE, PhD –professor of design, management and policy, Lancaster University; main commission member, The Commission on Creating Healthy Cities, UK.

• Rama Gheerawo – director, Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design, Royal College of Art, UK.• Ab Rogers – founder and creative director, Ab Rogers Design, UK.

The event will also host a Video + Poster gallery of innovative research and projects, and a knowledge-focused exhibition of design solutions for cities, communities and workplaces.

Find out more about the conference here.