Motorists should have to pay for car parking at supermarkets, shopping centres and workplaces to fund public transport and fight both obesity and climate change, according to an adviser to the World Heath Organisation (WHO).
Hugh Barton, adviser to WHO on its Healthy Cities programme in which Dublin participates, told the National Housing Conference in Dublin that such measures were needed "in order to change behaviour and investment priorities".
He also finds that health is a good reason to make people think twice about the choices they make.
"Politicians and property developers find it very hard to argue against health, so it strengthens the case for sustainable development."
Stressing the importance of shaping neighbourhoods for "health, sustainability and vitality", he said physical activities such as walking and cycling are essential to reduce the growing problem of obesity among children and adults.
"This is so much part of a whole set of medical problems that we should be taking very seriously the "armchair-type'"society we're creating, with kids sitting in playing computer games when they should be out there running around."
In designing new neighbourhoods, the most critical thing was "location, location, location", he said.
"If you put people in the wrong place, without access to local facilities, they become car- dependant and must commute long distances."
Mr Barton, who is based at the University of the West of England, said governments needed to tell developers that they had a social responsibility to collaborate creating "walkable neighbourhoods" and it was "not just about making a profit".
He criticised health boards for selecting new hospital sites on the basis that "plenty of car parking" could be provided. "In doing that, they are just creating more illness in society."
He also stressed the importance of building new neighbourhoods around public transport, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
This would promote a healthier society as people would usually have to walk to the nearest bus stop or railway station.
