Guidance: The role of health and wellbeing in planning
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Published 6 March 2014 Last updated 22 July 2019 — see
all updates From: Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local
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Published 6 March 2014
Last updated 22 July 2019 — see all
updates
ContentsThis guidance has been updated see previous version Where plans are being prepared under the transitional arrangements set out in Annex 1 to the revised National Planning Policy Framework, the policies in the previous version of the framework published in 2012 will continue to apply, as will any previous guidance which has been superseded since the new framework was published in July 2018. If you’d like an email alert when changes are made to planning guidance please subscribe. Achieving healthy and inclusive communitiesHow can positive planning contribute to healthier communities?The design and use of the built and natural environments, including green infrastructure are major determinants of health and wellbeing. Planning and health need to be considered together in two ways: in terms of creating environments that support and encourage healthy lifestyles, and in terms of identifying and securing the facilities needed for primary, secondary and tertiary care, and the wider health and care system (taking into account the changing needs of the population). Public health organisations, health service organisations, commissioners, providers, and local communities can use this guidance to help them work effectively with local planning authorities to promote healthy and inclusive communities and support appropriate health infrastructure. Paragraph: 001 Reference ID:53-001-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 What are the main health organisations that need to be involved in considering planning for health?Engagement between plan-making bodies and relevant organisations will help ensure that local strategies to improve health and wellbeing and the provision of the required health infrastructure are supported and considered in plans (including in the preparation of strategic policies for community facilities). Where these comprise strategic cross-boundary matters, agreements, joint working and progress can be documented in statements of common ground. The first point of contact on population health and wellbeing issues, including health inequalities, is the Director of Public Health for the local authority, or at the county council for two-tier areas. Working with the advice and support of the Director of Public Health, plan-makers may also need to involve the following key groups in the local health and wellbeing system:
Paragraph: 002 Reference ID:53-002-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 What is a healthy place? A healthy place is one which supports and promotes healthy behaviours and environments and a reduction in health inequalities for people of all ages. It will provide the community with opportunities to improve their physical and mental health, and support community engagement and wellbeing. It meets the needs of children and young people to grow and develop, as well as being adaptable to the needs of an increasingly elderly population and those with dementia and other sensory or mobility impairments. Paragraph: 003 Reference ID:53-003-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 How can planning create a healthier food environment? Planning can influence the built environment to improve health and reduce obesity and excess weight in local communities. Local planning authorities can have a role by supporting opportunities for communities to access a wide range of healthier food production and consumption choices. Planning policies and supplementary planning documents can, where justified, seek to limit the proliferation of particular uses where evidence demonstrates this is appropriate (and where such uses require planning permission). In doing so, evidence and guidance produced by local public health colleagues and Health and Wellbeing Boards may be relevant. Planning policies and proposals may need to have particular regard to the following issues:
Paragraph: 004 Reference ID:53-004-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 How can the need for health facilities and other health and wellbeing impacts be considered in making planning policies and decisions?Plan-making bodies will need to discuss their emerging strategy for development at an early stage with NHS England, local Clinical Commissioning Groups, Health and Wellbeing Boards, Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships/Integrated Care Systems (depending on local context), and the implications of development on health and care infrastructure. It is helpful if the Director of Public Health is consulted on any planning applications (including at the pre-application stage) that are likely to have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of the local population or particular groups within it. This would allow them to work together on any necessary mitigation measures. A health impact assessment is a useful tool to use where there are expected to be significant impacts. Information gathered from this engagement will assist local planning authorities in considering whether the identified impact(s) could be addressed through planning conditions or obligations. Alternatively, local planning authorities may decide the identified need could be funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy. Paragraph: 005 Reference ID:53-005-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 Promoting the benefits of estate regenerationWhat is the role of planning in promoting estate regeneration to create sustainable, inclusive and balanced communities?Plan-making can play a crucial role in estate regeneration by setting a strategic vision and framework and establishing the principles to inform development early in the process. It is particularly important that planning policies consider the need for estate regeneration and involve communities in their production, to help build a shared understanding of the issues and opportunities in each place. Paragraph: 006 Reference ID:53-006-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 Supporting the delivery of sufficient school places to meet the needs of existing and new communitiesHow can plan-makers assess the need and demand for school places?Local authorities with education responsibilities forecast the need for new school places and report this to the Government through an annual school capacity survey. They consider natural population change such as birth rates, the effects of parental choice, and estimate additional needs from new housing with reference to pupil numbers from recent developments and other evidence. The Department for Education has published the ‘Securing developer contributions for education’ guidance for local authorities on estimating pupil numbers from new housing and securing contributions for the creation of additional school places for all education phases (age 0-19 years and special educational needs) over the plan period. Paragraph: 007 Reference ID:53-007-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 How can plans allocate land for education?Plans should seek to meet the development needs of their area, including community facilities such as schools. They should, at the most appropriate level, allocate sufficient suitable land for schools to meet the need anticipated over the plan period, taking into account needs that may cross local authority boundaries. Plan-makers will need to work with local authorities with education responsibilities and developers to coordinate the phasing and delivery of housing growth with the delivery of new school places to ensure that sufficient school capacity is available at the right time. Mainstream schools must be of a viable size and format and planned for on the basis of standard class sizes. Precise site allocation policies provide clarity and certainty by identifying the total amount of land required for education use, with regard to the Department for Education space standards, and any necessary characteristics for the school site such as its shape, accessibility and serviced provision at an appropriate time. Master planning of large developments with multiple developers can help to inform decisions about the appropriate scale and siting of new or expanded schools. Future-proofing may also be considered, for example designating land adjacent to education sites to allow for future expansion if required. Where a plan safeguards additional land specifically for education, the land can be made available for purchase by the local authority within a suitable period, after which other uses may be permissible. If the additional land is required for education, this will preclude alternative uses for the purposes of land valuation. Paragraph: 008 Reference ID:53-008-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 Supporting safe communitiesWhat is the role of planning in preventing crime and malicious threats?Planning provides an important opportunity to consider the security of the built environment, those that live and work in it and the services it provides. Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (as amended) requires all local, joint and combined authorities (as well as National Parks, the Broads Authority and the Greater London Authority) to exercise their functions with due regard to their likely effect on crime and disorder, and to do all they reasonably can to prevent crime and disorder. Crime for these purposes includes terrorism. Paragraph: 009 Reference ID:53-009-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 How can planning help to achieve resilient places?Good design that considers security as an intrinsic part of a masterplan or individual development can help achieve places that are safe as well as attractive, which function well, and which do not need subsequent work to achieve or improve resilience. However good security is not only about physical measures and design; it requires risks and mitigation to be considered in a holistic way. Local, joint and combined authorities may find it helpful (either through decision taking or plan-making) to undertake a Security Considerations Assessment (SCA) process or take into account a SCA process undertaken by developers and other applicants as part of the design, construction and management of new developments or assembling a masterplan. SCA provides a mechanism by which organisations can demonstrate, through a fully documented process, that potential security-related vulnerabilities have been identified, assessed and, where necessary, addressed in a manner that is appropriate and proportionate. Good design means a wide range of crimes from theft to terrorism are less likely to happen by making committing those crimes more difficult. It helps create safer places, infrastructure and buildings that are less vulnerable to terrorist attack and, should an attack take place, where people are better protected from its impacts. It can also reduce the cost and impact of security measures by avoiding retrospective works and enable mitigating measures to be blended into the environment. Paragraph: 010 Reference ID:53-010-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 How can potential malicious threats in crowded places be addressed?For all locations which will generate crowds in public places, applicants and local planning authorities should consider appropriate security measures in the design of buildings and spaces. Good counter-terrorism protective security can also support wider crime prevention. There are a number of sources of guidance available including:
The consideration of security requirements will need to be proportionate to the size and nature of the development, the anticipated number of users and the wider setting. As well as understanding the purpose of the site, how it will operate and its potential to be regularly crowded, consideration will need to be given to measures that directly or indirectly mitigate identified threats as far as is proportionate. This could include protection of the public from vehicles used as a weapon or as an Improvised Explosive Device. Paragraph: 011 Reference ID:53-011-20190722 Revision date: 22 07 2019 Where can local authorities and others go to for further advice on measures which provide appropriate security and resilience?As well as the above referenced guidance, local police Counter Terrorism Security Advisors (CTSAs) and Designing Out Crime Officers (DOCOs) have training and experience of advising on security, are independent in their advice and have further access to more specialist resources where required, including the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI). Local planning authorities should consider referring appropriate planning applications for public access buildings and spaces to the police who will determine the appropriate specialist input. |