The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This policy requires a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for larger developments: residential schemes of 100 or more dwellings, non-residential schemes of 1,000 square metres or more, and uses such as education, health and social care, care homes, leisure, community and fast food outlets. The HIA should be prepared early, before a planning application is submitted, to identify positive health impacts and minimise negative ones, with a focus on reducing health inequalities. Its conclusions must be reflected in the design of the scheme.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
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What the plan says
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SE1: Health impact assessment
1. Development proposals that meet the following criteria must submit a Health Impact Assessment (HIA):
a) Residential development of net 100 dwellings or more.
b) Non-residential development of net 1000+ sqm of floorspace; or
c) Development falling within uses for: education, health and social care, residential care homes, leisure, community, fast food outlets and sui generis use.
2. Development proposals will be required to submit a HIA at the earliest possible stage prior to the submission of a planning application to identify the positive health impacts, and minimise the negative health impacts, while maintaining a focus on addressing health inequalities. The conclusions of the HIA must be considered in the design of the scheme. The council recommend that applicants use the Buckinghamshire HIA toolkit and guidance once published.
7.454 Public Health England (2020)26 produced guidance on the use of HIAs in the planning system and their role as a lever to create healthy, inclusive and safe places that improve public health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. The impacts on, and enablers of, good physical and mental health should be considered in the early stages of development proposals, often at pre-application stage.
7.455 HIAs should demonstrate how a development proposal contributes to addressing current and projected health and wellbeing needs across the user’s lifespan, to reduce health inequalities, meet the needs of vulnerable groups, promote health equity and enhance stakeholder engagement. The Council will support proposals that actively reduce health inequalities, prevent ill-health and promote healthier lifestyles, improving the health and wellbeing of our existing and new communities.
7.456 A HIA should consider the positive and negative health impacts on population health and demonstrate mitigations and recommendations as to how the proposed development has been improved in response to the assessment. It will also inform design and detail and include early involvement of public health, planning officers and applicants.
7.457 All developments meeting any of the criteria set out in Policy SE1 will be required to submit a HIA demonstrating how the development contributes to shaping healthy communities and delivering high quality sustainable places. The HIA will identify the positive health impacts and minimise the negative health impacts across 6 key themes (neighbourhoods, healthy homes 26 Public Health England (2020). Health Impact Assessment in spatial planning A guide for local authority public health and planning teams. and buildings, healthy food environments, natural and sustainable environments, transport and movement and healthy economy) to maximise the opportunities for promoting healthy lifestyles within new developments. The council recommend that applicants use the Buckinghamshire HIA toolkit and guidance once published.