Building health into developments – How planning and public health can build a healthier future

Organised and hosted by PHE SW in partnership with South West Public Health Network, with coordination from the ESRC-funded project Reuniting Planning and Health: Tackling the Implementation Gaps in Evidence, Governance and Knowledge. For additional information and registration, please visit the event webpage.

Neighbourhood design can have a profound impact on the physical and mental health of communities. The key to successful places lie in the communication between services and proximity of amenities, from healthcare facilities to green infrastructure to local transport networks. Compact neighbourhoods that feel safe, well connected and provide access to several amenities and destinations, have a positive impact on health and wellbeing. The National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF) recognises that the planning system can play an important role in creating healthy, inclusive communities.

Although the links between the built and natural environments are well established, the planning process does not always consistently deliver healthy developments. A CABE study, which used the Building for Life methodology, found that fewer than one in five of the private housing developments audited could be classed as ‘good’ or ‘very good’[1]. They also found that the better private housing schemes tended to be in more affluent areas and the poorer private housing schemes in less affluent areas.

The national policy frameworks are in place but more work is required to link planning and health at a local authority level.

This event offers 2 days of training and development aimed at public health, planners, transport planners, environmental health officers and elected members, covering:

• Planning legislation, process and applying planning interventions, e.g. healthy weight environments
• Using JSNAs and health and wellbeing board strategies
• Influencing local planning policy
• Using planning to attract funding to the health systems by using s106 funding, community infrastructure levy and pre-application planning advice
• Basic principles of HIAs
• Use of HIA methodology and how to embed this within the planning system

Both days have been designed to attract multidisciplinary participants from interested professionals and elected members.

Delegates will ideally book for both days but each day can be booked individually. Places are limited to 50 so early booking is essential.