Local planning requirement
When the requirement applies
Building for a Healthy Life (previously known as Building for Life 12) is the latest edition of an industry standard endorsed by Government for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods. Core Strategy Policy CP6 (Environmental Quality) requires all major development schemes with a residential component to be assessed using the Building for Life 12 design assessment tool (or equivalent methodology). Building for a Healthy Life should now be used as the 'equivalent methodology' stated in Policy CP6. The original 12-point structure and principles of the standard remain, but this new edition urges applications to focus more on active travel, air quality and biodiversity.
A Building for a Healthy Life Assessment will be necessary for all major proposals where one or more of the following is true:
- There will be 10 or more new dwellings
- There will be 1000sqm of new floor space which includes residential use
- The development will have a residential component, and will be carried out on a site area of 1 hectare or more
Building for a Healthy Life is most effective when used early in the design process of a development proposal. The 12 considerations of the assessment are a very effective way of structuring pre-application discussions relating to design quality.
What the assessment should include
There is no standard format for this report. Applicants should create their own document that works for them using the 12 considerations in Building for a Healthy Life, applying the traffic lights system, as set out in the documents below. The assessment could form part of the Design and Access Statement.