The Vital Role of Health in the Planning Process: A Strategic Perspective

In the contemporary built environment, the definition of a “healthy place” has evolved significantly. It is no longer characterised simply by the absence of disease, but as an environment that actively enhances the complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing of its inhabitants.

As we look toward the future of development in 2026, the responsibility of engineers, consultants, and architects to influence end users’ health has never been more critical.

Shifting the Planning Philosophy: From Treatment to Prevention

The UK’s planning philosophy has undergone a fundamental shift, moving away from treating ill health toward a proactive model of prevention. This transition is anchored in the Health and Social Care Act (2012), which mandates that Local Authorities take appropriate steps to improve the health of people within their areas.

This link between planning, design, and public health is now firmly integrated into the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the National Design Guide. Specifically, Chapter 8 of the NPPF is dedicated to the promotion of healthy and safe communities. Consequently, many Local Authorities now require a formal assessment of potential health effects on both existing communities and future occupants.

The Strategic Value of the Health Impact Assessment (HIA)

The Health Impact Assessment (HIA) serves as the primary mechanism to identify adverse and beneficial effects on human wellbeing during the planning process. By evaluating both the construction and operational phases, an HIA ensures that public health is prioritised in high-level decision-making.

A robust HIA evaluates a project across several key themes:

• Accessibility and Active Travel: Ensuring developments encourage movement and connectivity.
• Environmental Quality: Addressing air quality, noise pollution, and neighbourhood amenity.
• Social Infrastructure: Facilitating access to healthcare services and open green spaces.
• Community Safety: Incorporating measures for crime reduction.

For the majority of projects, a Rapid Health Impact Assessment (rHIA) is the most efficient route. It provides timely, evidence-based recommendations and acts as a screening tool to rule out the need for more detailed, costly assessments, thereby reducing delays in the planning process.

Leading Healthy Placemaking

At BWB, our mission, “Creating places for everyone, preserving our planet for all”, is the driving force behind our approach to healthy placemaking. We believe that the earlier the HIA process begins in a project’s design, the better the outcomes for the community.

BWB provides a distinct advantage through:

• Early-Stage Insight: We build baseline health profiles at the concept stage to identify constraints and design opportunities that shape a healthier project vision.
• Technical Authority: Our assessments are conducted by ‘Competent Experts’ as defined by the 2024 IEMA guidance.
• Multidisciplinary Optimisation: We employ a multi-environmental-disciplinary approach to ensure health outcomes are optimised as the design progresses.
• Community Alignment: Our award-winning stakeholder engagement services inform the local community on how health benefits have been maximised.

By integrating health into the core of the planning stage, we create resilient, thriving environments that benefit people and the planet rather than merely meet regulatory requirements.