HIA: Adding Value to
Planning
Welsh Health Impact Assessment
Support Unit
Liz Green
HIA Development Officer
Political Context
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Devolved Government
Emphasis on:
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Health and wellbeing
Addressing inequalities
within population
Sustainable Development
Citizen centred public
services
Partnership working
Integrated agenda
Drivers for HIA in Planning
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Wales: A Better Country
Development of Welsh Public Health Strategic
Framework – CMO advocate of HIA
Making the Connections
Consideration of Health in All Policies
SEA/EIA - consideration of ‘human health’
and ‘population health’
DMIPPS02/2006 – Planning, Health and Wellbeing’
Planning Context
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Draft Ministerial Interim Planning Policy
Statement (MIPPS02/2006). Guidance
for Planners:
highlights the importance of ‘local
planning authorities assessing health
and well-being impacts when
determining planning applications and
preparing development plans’.
Local Development Plans
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The Local Development Plan (LDP) is a
key strategic document which sets out
the framework for land use planning
and allocation in a Welsh Local
Authority between 2006 and 2021.
Case Study: Wrexham
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Sustainability
Appraisal of the Key
Issues and Strategy
Options (December
2006) recommended
… a Health Impact
Appraisal needed on
the LDP.
The HIA Added Value to :
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The Plan
The Process
People
Policy
Plan
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'The practical range of the recommendations
by the HIA raised plenty of questions and
issues to be considered as we deliver our
vision of what Wrexham will look like in the
future'.
Phil Walton, Strategic Director for Health, Well
Being and Sustainability
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Positive and negative impacts and gaps
identified – tied in to 3 SEA priority areas
Key recommendations led to SEA
amendments
Raised awareness of health and wellbeing for
the Borough
Highlighted inequality and social issues
Emphasised stronger collaborative ties
Process
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'The process was lively and enjoyable, and enabled
non-health professionals to discuss how we integrate
the need for improving health and well being with
developing sustainable communities, and develop a
shared way forward. The HIA has also been used to
inform the ongoing Strategic Environmental
Assessment of the LDP.
Michael Cantwell, sustainable development officer
People
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'The rapid Health Impact Appraisal brought
planners and key health stakeholders from all
sides of the community together in a room, to
work through a constructive dialogue about
what the future development requirements of
Wrexham should be, and how this could be
delivered through the Local Development
Plan. The format was very effective at quickly
getting to the heart of the issues '
Clive Nicholas, Planning Policy Manager
Policy
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‘I felt that the workshop made people think outside
the ‘box’ and appreciate the likely impacts of the LDP’
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‘Workshop highlighted issues that would not normally
have been seen as significant from the perspective of
my service area’
Participants, LDP HIA workshop
Outcomes
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Development of services for local needs - identified impacts that had
not been recognised
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Addressed specific vulnerable groups and health inequalities
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Made people ‘think out of the box’ and away from ‘silo mentalities’
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Informed decision making process and has led to amendments to the
emerging LDP
Strengthened partnership working – both externally and internally to
the LA
Democratic and open engagement for community and the organisation
Opportunities for future
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Findings published – www.whiasu.wales.nhs.uk
LA continues to raise awareness of health and
wellbeing with elected members and key
stakeholders
Undertake more HIA’s within Planning and other
traditional ‘non-health’ sectors
National level – Public Health Strategic Framework for
Wales, Wales Transport Plan, Wales Waste Strategy
Local level – WelTAG and Road Improvement
Schemes, housing schemes
Success for HIA
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Political will
Shown HIA ‘do-able’
Builds capacity and raises awareness of HIA
Converts traditionally ‘non-health’ policy areas
Research and evaluation for the future
Welsh Health Impact
Assessment Support Unit
www.whiasu.wales.nhs.uk
Liz.green@wch.wales.nhs.uk