Planning for Community Health and Wellbeing

Planning for Community Health and Wellbeing Local Plan Objective 5 Aim: To support communities throughout Buckinghamshire with their health, social and cultural wellbeing. We aim to protect and improve health care facilities and access to them for residents. a) Create accessible and inclusive places that support active lifestyles and good health through people-friendly streets, open and green spaces, and play areas. b) Work with health providers and partners to ensure appropriate healthcare facilities are available and accessible, including the delivery of new provision where required. c) Provide new or enhanced sport, leisure and cultural facilities where needed. d) Improve air quality across Buckinghamshire. 4.16 The built and natural environment is an important determinant of our residents’ and visitors’ health and wellbeing. A healthy place is described in the Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) as one which: a) Provides opportunities for the community to improve their physical and mental health. b) Supports community engagement and wellbeing. c) Meets the needs of children and young people; and d) Is adaptable to the needs of an increasingly elderly population and those with dementia and other sensory or mobility impairments. 4.17 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) highlights the role of the planning system in supporting health and wellbeing in creating healthy, inclusive and safe places that promote social interaction, are accessible, and that enable and support healthy living through creating opportunities for healthy choices that reduce health inequalities. 4.18 Health inequalities are avoidable, unfair, and systematic differences in health that arise from the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. These differences affect opportunities for good physical and mental wellbeing and disproportionately impact vulnerable groups, including children, older adults, ethnic minorities, disabled people, those with mental health challenges, and individuals facing social or economic disadvantage such as homelessness or deprivation. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 place a legal duty on local authorities to reduce these inequalities by ensuring that planning and service delivery consider their impact on health. It promotes collaboration between planners and health professionals and positions Directors of Public Health as key advisors in shaping healthier communities. 4.19 Although Buckinghamshire generally has better health outcomes than much of England, these benefits are not experienced equally, with poorer outcomes concentrated among vulnerable and deprived groups. The Local Plan plays an important role in addressing this by promoting environments that support both physical and mental health. This includes well-designed spaces that encourage walking and physical activity, access to recreation and green spaces, healthy housing, clean air, and opportunities for social connection, education, and employment. Alongside prevention, it is also essential to ensure sufficient healthcare infrastructure, particularly as some existing facilities face capacity and ageing challenges. Future development must therefore support accessible healthcare services and provide affordable accommodation for key workers to sustain the healthcare workforce.