Michael Chang, Project and Policy Manager, Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)www.tcpa.org.uk/pages/health.html

@CulturePlanning

TCPA Reuniting Health with Planningand links to the Network

Founded as the Garden Cities Association in 1899 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in response to 19th century urban problems.

• Cross-sector/disciplinary membership organisation

• Planning charity campaigning to improve the planning systems in accordance with the principles of sustainable development

• UK and European cross-disciplinary projects and events on built and natural environment topics

• Key projects, policy and research on housing delivery, new communities, urban policy, climate change and energy, green infrastructure, public health

• Training programme for planners and non-planners across UK, Europe, China!

How does the TCPA’s work fit into the Network

to explore and generate ideas to make best use of the wealth of data to inform positive change.

The inevitable strain of life can be eased by good housing conditions, good working conditions, good opportunity for the enjoyment of leisure, freedom for proper rest, with the proper opportunity for fresh food.From ‘Health and Garden Cities’, 1938

Norman Macfadyen, TCPA Chair (1929-44) & Letchworth Garden City’s first medical officer of health

TCPA ProjectsPlanning, Health & Social Justice

How does the Network’s work fit into planning?

to explore and generate ideas to make best use of the wealth of data to inform positive change.

What national policy says about planning for health/ obesity

Planning Practice Guidance, 2014

Opportunities for healthy lifestyles have been considered - e.g. planning for an environment that:• supports people of all ages in making healthy

choices, • helps to promote active travel and physical activity,

and • promotes access to healthier food, high quality

open spaces and opportunities for play, sport and recreation).

What national policy says about health evidence in planning?

National Planning Policy Framework, 2012

Local planning authorities should work with public health leads and health organisations to

understand and take account of the health status and needs of the local population (such

as for sports, recreation and places of worship), including expected future changes, and any

information about relevant barriers to improving health and well-being.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment

2009 recommendations• Improving and co-ordinating data sources and quality:• Making the best use of the JSNA in planning decisions• Using the JSNA in statutory annual monitoring

2015 research – London Boroughs• 21 (64%) of the Local Plans has the JSNA as part of

the evidence base while 12 (36%) of the Local Plans do not refer to the JSNA at all.

• National planning policy and guidance

• Housing Needs Assessment• Strategic Flood Risk maps• Authority Monitoring Report• Transport Assessment• Green Infrastructure/ Open

Space Assessment• Household projections• Town Centre Health Checks• Health needs assessment

• Renewable Energy Capacity• Affordable Housing Viability• Urban capacity studies• Retail Capacity• Landscape Characterisation• Infrastructure Delivery• Summary of public and

stakeholder consultation• Ministerial statements

Question: are all of any of these considered evidence?

A. Movement and Access- Travel Plans- Transport Assessment

B. Open spaces, play, recreation- Open space strategy- Sports needs assessment

C. Food- Locations of food retail- Allotment provision

D. Neighbourhood spaces- Infrastructure delivery plan- Public realm strategy

E. Buildings-

F. Local economy

Planning Healthy Weight Environments

So what do we need evidence to do?

Local Authorities should have a very clear idea about:• what they need evidence for, • how they are going to use it and • how much detail they need to go into.

‘What gets measured, gets attention’

Collaboration for shared evidenceMore than just the statutory Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

Worcestershire planning and health• To inform future planning policy

and decision making across the county

• Planning for Health workshops (March, April, June 2015)

• Future opportunities for secondment for planning in public health

Shared evidence leading to shared policy actions

- Different approaches using same sources of evidence – IMD etc

- The key is robust, appropriate and proportionate evidence as the starting point

- Need holistic action across the whole council area to stand up to scrutiny

- Support of academia?

- Examples: South Tyneside, Central Lancashire, Gateshead, Newham, Haringey

Examples of shared evidence we should aim for

Examples of policies we should aim for

A. The council will not grant planning permission for hot food takeaway shops that fall within an exclusion zone of 400 meters of the boundaries of (Map XX):

A. Locations where children and young people congregateB. Locations where there are high levels of obesity

B. The Council will only consider granting planning permission for hot food take-away shops outside of the exclusion zone where:– XX

Shared policy actions leading to shared outcomes

• A Healthy City• Healthy Communities• Improving transport and travel• Developing a town fit for the 21st Century• Active County• Healthy New Town!

ACCESSIBILITY

FLOOD RISK

CAR PARKING

GROUND FLOOR RETAIL

RE-USE EXISTING BUILDING

ACCESS FOR ALL

MIXED USE FACILITY

What do we observe about the nature of evidence?

‘How does the health outcome justify the planning outcome? At the moment, provision of open space might facilitate healthy behaviour, but we know that houses on open space definitely produces houses, so you have to have the debate around what is more important for us as a healthy sustainable city – exercise versus affordable housing. It’s a matter of understanding why the council should prioritise differently.’ Planning Manager, North West England

TCPA’s aspirations for the Network

to explore and generate ideas to make best use of the wealth of data to inform positive change.

Evidence Policy Choices Decision

Question: which approach is sound & legally compliant?

Decision Evidence Policy Choices

Policy Choices Evidence Decision

Planning is an art…

Landscape

Heritage

Biodiversity

TourismFlood Risk

Commuting

Homes

Accessibility

Shops

…and a science.

“One thing the new – if fiendishly complex – system seems to be doing is spurring people to relationships not structures as a way of building public health strategies and systems.”

Jim McManus, Director of Public Health, Hertfordshire County Council

Finally.. Building relationships and exchanging knowledge is crucial

For further information please go to http://www.tcpa.org.uk/pages/health.html

Michael ChangMichael.Chang@tcpa.org.uk www.tcpa.org.uk

@CulturePlanning