What is a Health Impact Assessment? Defining the Healthy Place A healthy place is far more than an environment free of disease. It is a space designed to enhance the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of every person who uses it. At BWB, we understand and recognise that the built environment, shaped by engineers, architects, and consultants, has a direct and significant impact on end users’ health. Our mission, “Creating places for everyone, preserving our planet for all,” is the foundation of what is called Healthy Placemaking. What is a Health Impact Assessment? A Health Impact Assessment (HIA) is a process undertaken during the planning stage to identify the potential effects of a proposed development on human health. It evaluates impacts across both the construction and operational phases to ensure public health remains a priority in decision-making. An HIA evaluates a project based on the social determinants of health, which include: Individual & Lifestyle Factors: Age, exercise habits, and diet. Environmental Quality: Air quality, noise levels, and housing standards. Socio-economic Factors: Access to healthcare, education, and community safety. Why are HIAs Required for Planning? UK planning philosophy has shifted from simply treating ill health to actively preventing it. Current frameworks, such as the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Health and Social Care Act (2012), require local authorities to take steps to improve their residents’ health. How can we improve the HIAs for Clients? To streamline HIAs, BWB often utilises a Rapid Health Impact Assessment (rHIA). This tool: Quickly identifies positive and negative health effects. Provides evidence-based recommendations to improve outcomes. Acts as a screening tool to rule out the need for more expensive, detailed assessments, thereby reducing client costs and planning delays. By performing an rHIA we can save clients time and money. BWB Healthy Placemaking What sets BWB apart is our integrated approach, which embeds health into the very fabric of our engineering and infrastructure solutions. Concept Stage Integration: We build baseline health profiles of local communities to identify design opportunities at the earliest possible stage. Competent Experts: Our HIAs are conducted by ‘Competent Experts’ as defined by the 2024 Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (IEMA) guidance. Proven Track Record: We have extensive experience across multiple sectors, particularly in residential schemes, helping to maximise community health benefits. Stakeholder Engagement: We provide award-winning services to inform local communities on how project health benefits have been optimised. By focusing on healthy outcomes early in the design, BWB helps developers create sustainable, thriving spaces that benefit people and the planet alike. Find out more about Healthy Places here.