A Place to Call Home: How Housing Shapes Health in Wirral

05 March 2026

Collage of photos from Wirral including: overhead shots of residential areas, colourful benches on the seaside, the Mersey Ferry and a rusty sign

Wirral’s new Public Health Annual Report (PHAR) shows how our homes and neighbourhoods influence our health, wellbeing and everyday life.

The report, titled A Place to Call Home: How Housing Shapes Health in Wirral, was presented to Wirral’s Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee earlier this month. It highlights the strengths in our communities, the support already available to residents and the positive work already taking place.

It also looks at the pressures some people face, including rising housing costs, fuel bills and insecure housing, and explains how regeneration and partnership working are creating new opportunities to build safer, healthier and more connected places for everyone.

Each year, Wirral Council publishes an independent Public Health Annual Report, known as the PHAR. It is a legal requirement and gives the Director of Public Health the chance to highlight an important issue that affects the health and wellbeing of local people. The theme is chosen based on local evidence, the needs of residents and the challenges seen across our communities.

This year’s focus on housing reflects the strong link between where we live and how healthy we feel. The PHAR outlines the findings, what needs to happen next and how these actions will shape future plans, services and work across the council and its partners.

Why housing and health go hand in hand

The report sets out that where we live has a big impact on how healthy and happy we feel. It says a home is more than a building. It’s where we rest, feel safe and spend time with the people we care about.

Dave Bradburn, Wirral’s Director of Public Health, said:

Good health is about more than not being ill. It’s about feeling safe, having stability and being able to live well every day. Our homes play a huge part in that. A healthy home should be warm, dry and safe, but we know that not everyone in Wirral has these conditions, and that can have a real impact on health and wellbeing.
Wirral is also going through one of the biggest periods of change in its history. Regeneration gives us a rare chance to reshape places in a way that supports people’s health, not only by building new homes but by improving the homes and neighbourhoods people already live in. Working with our partners, we can make sure this transformation creates safer streets, better quality housing and stronger, more connected communities for everyone.

The PHAR brings together stories, data and local insight, and details how the council is working to make improvements for local people.

Some of the report’s findings include the level of households that may be living with cold, damp or poorly ventilated homes - which can make breathing problems and heart conditions worse - and how rising fuel costs affect many families.

The report also explains that these pressures do not affect everyone in the same way. Children in the poorest areas are more than twice as likely to have asthma, and overcrowding is far more common in deprived neighbourhoods. Homelessness has also risen by 16 per cent between 2020 and 2024 which puts more people at risk of poor health and instability.

Cllr Graeme Cooper, Chair of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, said:

These issues are not unique to Wirral; they can be found across the country, but by making them the subject of this year’s report, Wirral is showing its commitment to making improvements for our communities. This report shows how everything is connected and gives us the opportunity to focus on where we can make a real difference to the health of local residents.

A lot of work is already taking place across Wirral to tackle these issues and support residents. This includes:

Healthy Homes: a free Wirral Council service that helps residents with damp, mould, cold and safety concerns. Last year the council’s team fixed more than 200 serious hazards in local homes.
Warmer Wirral: developed by Wirral Council after a pilot project with Energy Projects Plus, which supported more than 3,200 households through heating and energy advice. The learning from this pilot has led to the creation of Warmer Wirral service, which continues to support residents with heating, energy and insulation guidance.
Housing First: delivered through a partnership between the council, housing providers, health services and the voluntary sector. It gives people with complex needs a stable home and ongoing support. Everyone on the programme said it made a positive difference.
Regeneration projects across Birkenhead, Seacombe, Liscard, Woodside and Moreton, which are creating better homes, safer streets, green spaces and neighbourhoods shaped by local people.

Cllr Graeme Cooper added:

By focusing on housing, the report also highlights how an area that is not always regarded as part of the public health system can have a major impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Some of the excellent work already being carried out by our Public Health and Housing teams is recognised, along with Wirral’s future plans that demonstrate the council’s commitment to making further improvements. One of the strongest messages from this report is that we need to work across council departments and with partner organisations to make sure Wirral has the high quality housing that residents deserve, and the conditions that support healthy lives.

What happens next?

The PHAR outlines what needs to happen next, so that this work continues to make a difference. The priorities for the year ahead include:

Making sure health is considered in all future housing, planning and regeneration decisions
Targeting support to people and areas facing the greatest risks
Strengthening early help to prevent homelessness sooner
Improving the support available for cold, damp or unsafe homes
Bringing partners together to deliver joined‑up support

All these actions will form one shared borough‑wide plan so that everyone, including Wirral Council and its partners, is working towards the same goals.

The Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee will review progress through regular updates.