In this chapter

• Introduction to development management policy
• Housing
• Climate change
• Nature and ecosystem services
• Green Belt
• Jobs and economy
• Healthy, vibrant and inclusive communities
  • Policy HVC/TC: Town centre retail hierarchy and development
  • Policy HVC/TCD: Town, district and local centre development
  • Policy HVC/LS: Dispersed local shops
  • Policy HVC/H: Health and wellbeing
  • Policy HVC/HIA: Health impact assessments
  • Policy HVC/HFT: Hot food takeaways
  • Policy HVC/CF: Community facilities
  • Policy HVC/PS: Safeguarding land for primary school use
  • Policy HVC/PSC: Primary school capacity
  • Policy HVC/C: Safeguarding land for cemeteries
  • Policy HVC/A: Protecting allotments
  • Policy HVC/B: Broadband connection at new residential properties
  • Policy HVC/LGS: Local green spaces
• Heritage and design
• Sustainable transport
• Pollution, contamination and safety
• Minerals and waste
• Waste
• Infrastructure

Policy HVC/H: Health and wellbeing

About this page

How this part of the Local Plan Options Document works

These Development Management policy option pages contain the following sections:

Policy background

• Relevant national policy or regulations
• National or regional trends
• Local situation and needs/li>
• How we have dealt with this issue in the past
• The thinking behind the policy

Policy options for the new Local Plan

We may suggest a variety of approaches:

• Keeping existing policy as it is
• Making small changes
• Replacing the policy with something that is substantially different
• Identifying factors or events which may affect this policy in the future

Policy option analysis

• A list of the advantages and disadvantages that we have identified for each of the policy options we are presenting.

More on this topic

View the Health and Well-being and Healthy and Vibrant Communities Topic Papers for in-depth focus about this topic, and the evidence which informs our policy. Visit our library of Local Plan Options supporting documents to learn more. 

Explore the policy

Select a section below to read more.

Policy background

9.294 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that planning policy should promote health and wellbeing. NPPF Paragraph 96 outlines that this should be achieved through promoting social interaction, making spaces safe and accessible, and creating places that enable and support healthy lifestyles, especially where this would address identified local health and wellbeing needs.

9.295 The B&NES Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy sets out the ambition that the local plan is utilised to deliver health places and reduce inequalities, and therefore it is appropriate to develop a specific health and wellbeing policy.

9.296 Therefore, it is proposed to include a policy in the Local Plan that requires new development to contribute towards creating healthy places. This will be demonstrated through completion of a health impact assessment to be submitted as part of a planning application.

Policy options for the new Local Plan

Option A

All development must contribute toward creating healthy places, including encouraging active travel, creating inclusive and accessible public realm, and supplying access to green space. This will be assessed through health impact assessments, required as part of an application for any major development, or development with an anticipated major impact, including cumulatively.

Advantages of Option A

Including HIA requirements within the policy makes it easier to assess.

Disadvantages of Option A

Becomes a very lengthy policy. Focus on the health impact assessment element of the policy may lead to reduced emphasis on the components of a healthy place.

Option B

All development must contribute toward creating healthy places, and the policy will outline the ways in which this should be done.

Details on health impact assessments are left out, and instead included in a separate policy.

Advantages of Option B

Gives more weight to the components of healthy places and acts as a statement of intent for our approach to health in planning.

Disadvantages of Option B

No metrics - may make it harder to assess in determining the planning application.