Health-Proofing Masterplan Designs: A Guide v1.1

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Health-Proofing Masterplan Designs: A Guide

A guide to reviewing masterplan designs from a healthy urban planning, public health and

health impact assessment perspective [v1.1]


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Developed by:

Stoke-on-Trent Healthy City Programme

Stoke-on-Trent City Council

NHS Stoke-on-Trent

Centre for Health Impact Assessment, Institute of Occupational Medicine

Wider Team Contributions from:

Jerry Spencer, Jerry Spencer Associates, Regeneration and Urban Design

Marcus Chilaka, University of Salford

Peer Reviewed by:

Chimeme Egbutah, Luton Borough Council and NHS Luton

Paul Iggulden, Paul Iggulden Associates

Ben Cave, Ben Cave Associates

Patrick Harris, University of New South Wales

Ben Harris-Roxas, University of New South Wales

We particularly want to thank the peer reviewers who gave their time pro bono to help improve this guide.

For information on using this guide in Stoke-on-Trent and

how Stoke-on-Trent is applying healthy urban planning

principles please contact:

For general information and advice on how to apply this

guide please contact:

Judy Kurth

Strategic Coordinator/LSPHealthy City Partnership

NHS Stoke-on-Trent

120 Heron House

120 Grove Road

Stoke-on-Trent

ST4 4 LX

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 01782 298131

Dr Salim Vohra

Director, Centre for Health Impact AssessmentInstitute of Occupational Medicine (London Office)

Research House Business Centre

Fraser Road

Perivale

Middlesex

UB6 7AQ

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 020 8537 3494

Version 1.1, 21 March 2010 Core Content - Creative Commons Attribute Share Alike Licence 3.0

The core contents of the guide can be re-used, adapted and shared in anyway as long as you attribute this guide and your

derivative work is distributed, under the Creative Commons Share Alike Licence 3.0, so that anyone is able to use and adapt

your work. See www.creativecommons.org for more details.

Copyright for the Middleport Masterplan belongs to North Staffordshire RENEW. Organisational logos are the copyright of the

respective organisations. These cannot be used without permission.

Front Cover: Pottery Bottle Kiln, Stoke-on-Trent. Image courtesy of James Nisbeck Photography.

Back Cover: City Waterside West, Stoke-on-Trent. Image courtesy of the Centre for Health Impact Assessment.


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Derelict Homes, Stoke-on-Trent. Image courtesy of James Nisbeck Photography.


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Introduction

The way we perceive and interact with the physical environment built and natural has a

significant impact on individual and community wellbeing. Equally important are the

consequences of spatial and land use planning decisions and how easy or difficult this

makes it for people to access goods and services and engage with other people. This can

have a profound influence on the health and wellbeing not only of individuals but also of the

communities in which we all live. These effects can also disproportionately fall on those who

are already socially, economically and environmentally disadvantaged or suffering from poor

health and wellbeing. Therefore spatial changes to the physical environment can enhance

health equity and reduce health inequalities.1

Masterplans are the set of documents, particularly design drawings, that are developed to

show how the physical environment of an area is going to be transformed from one set of

existing buildings and land uses to another similar, or different, set of buildings and land

uses. Figure 2 on page 9 shows an example of a masterplan design.

The aim of this guide is to describe in detail how to systematically review masterplan designs

so that they incorporate public health and healthy urban planning best practice.

It is therefore primarily aimed at public health/health impact assessment (HIA) professionals

and planning professionals new to healthy urban planning and design. It can also be used by

local community groups and voluntary sector agencies.

We see two uses of this guide. It can support:

The review and health-proofing of masterplan design options when these designs are

being publicly consulted on during the masterplanning process.

The awareness raising and training of public health, HIA and planning professionals -

in the public, private and voluntary sectors - in healthy urban planning.

We very much see this guide as something that, through use, will evolve locally over time so

that it fits the planning and community contexts within which it is used.

1The Marmot Review. (2010). Fair Society, Healthy Lives. Strategic Review of Health Inequalities in

England post-2010.


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How this guide came about?

This guide came about as part of Stoke-on-Trents Healthy City Programme through a pilot

HIA research project looking to embed and mainstream HIA and healthy urban planning in

North Staffordshire between 2008-10.

What is healthy urban planning and design?234

Town planning as we know it in the UK originated early in the 19 th Century as a result of

concerns about the health and housing of industrial workers in urban areas.

Healthy urban planning and design is an approach to planning that puts people - individuals,

families and communities and their health and wellbeing at the heart of the planning and

regeneration process.

The physical environment, which is shaped by planning decisions, affects health and

wellbeing through enabling peoples ability to walk, cycle and enjoy the outdoors; by

encouraging social interactions between neighbours and other local people; by providing

good quality housing; and access to jobs, shops, services and public transport.

Healthy urban planning also puts special emphasis on health inequalities and inequity. Thesemanifest physically within and between neighbourhoods and communities in terms of the

level of physical dereliction, litter and graffiti; crime and antisocial behaviour; availability and

accessibility of amenities; the connectedness of streets and open spaces; and the quality of

community relationships (neighbourliness and community cohesion).

World Health Organizations 12 Healthy Urban Planning Principles

The World Health Organization (WHO) have developed 12 healthy urban planning principles

to inform planning processes and approaches to better consider the health and wellbeing of

individuals and communities.

Table 1 presents the 12 themes and principles as well as relevant examples of each principle

in action.5 These principles have strongly influenced the development of the health proofing

review tables shown in the Appendices.

2Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). (2009). Delivering healthy communities. Good Practice

Guidance Note 5.3World Health Organizaton. (2003). Healthy urban planning in practice: experience of European cities.

4Greater London Assembly. (2007). Health issues in planning: best practice guidance.


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Table 1:World Health Organizations 12 healthy urban planning principles

Theme Principle Example

1. HealthyLifestyles

Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote healthyexercise/physical activity?

Appropriate density housing, nearbyamenities, safe and walkable/cyclableneighbourhoods for children and adults

2. Social cohesion Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote social cohesion i.e.integration betweencommunities and activeengagement of communitiesin neighbourhood activities?

Low to medium levels of traffic throughhome zones and traffic calming measures,safe crossing points, widepavements/footpaths, well lit and lookedafter public spaces, human scalebusiness/industrial developments

3. Housing quality Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote housing quality

High quality design, high quality buildingmaterials, appropriate levels of internalroom spacing, appropriatelocation/orientation e.g. to maximise naturallight, mixed density developments, mixedtenure, mixed demography dwellings (singlepeople, couples, families, older people)

4. Access toemployment andeducation

opportunities

Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote access to

employment and educationopportunities?

Range of accessible and well connectedbusiness/industrial premises andeducational institutions.

5. Accessibility Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote accessibility

Reliable and frequent public transport,accessible and available health/socialcare/other public services, availability andaccessibility of commercial services e.g.banks, local shops, supermarkethairdresser, drycleaner, pharmacist, etc.

6. Local low-inputfood production

Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote local foodproduction with low input ofchemical fertiliser andpesticides?

Protection of high value agricultural landand allotments, support for composting,community gardening and growingvegetable patches in private gardens

7. Safety Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote safety and feeling ofsafety in the community?

Residential and commercial design thatincorporates passive surveillance throughoverlooking windows and encouragement ofpassing foot, cycle and public transporttraffic, removal of graffiti, maintenance andcleaning of green and built open spaces,repair of vandalised street furniture, creating

5World Health Organization. (2000). Healthy urban planning. Barton H and Tsourou C.


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Theme Principle Example

community spaces where adults andchildren of all ages can meet and chat.

8. Equity Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote equity and thedevelopment of socialcapital?

Targeting deprives and environmentallypoor areas for physical regeneration,ensuring high quality housing and businessdevelopments in these areas, improvingstreet lighting, public transport andpedestrian connectivity in these areas,building in home zones and traffic calmingmeasures.

9. Air quality andaesthetics

Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote good air quality,protection from excessivenoise and an attractiveenvironment for living andworking?

Regulate and reduce air emissions andnoise from motor vehicles, domesticsources and businesses. Use noise barriersand trees and shrubs as sinks for barriers toair pollution exposures

10. Water andsanitationquality

Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote improved water andsanitation quality?

Mains connection to drinking water andsewage systems, appropriate systemswhere mains connection are not feasible,reduce water usage in taps and appliances,incorporation of Surface water UrbanDrainage Schemes (SUDS)

11. Quality of landand mineralresources

Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote the conservationand quality of land andmineral resources?

Protection, maintenance and enhancementof high quality agricultural land, green andblue spaces, high quality remediation ofcontaminated land, appropriatedevelopment of mines and mineral refiningfacilities away from human settlements asmuch as possible, minimise use of nonrenewable mineral resources and land usesand practices that can degrade soil quality.

12. Climate Stability Do planning policies andproposals encourage andpromote climate stability

(and reduce the potentialimpact of climate change)

Design of energy efficient and well insulatedhomes that can cope with varyingtemperatures and rainfall to provideappropriate levels of thermal comfort forresidents, use of sustainable buildingmaterials, use of energy efficientappliances, recycling of building waste,recycling and appropriate treatment of otherwaste, use of renewable energy sourcesand protection, maintenance andenhancement of urban and ruralbiodiversity.


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What is the role of public health and healthcare?6 78910111213

Healthy urban planning is part of the public and environmental health role of Primary Care

Trusts, Health Boards and Local Authorities in the UK. Healthy urban planning can help

public services deliver on life expectancy, chronic disease (cardiovascular disease and

cancer), mental health, smoking, substance abuse, teenage pregnancy and obesity

objectives by improving peoples sense of wellbeing through the creation and maintenance of

clean, safe and inclusive physical environments and neighbourhoods. All of these can lead

to a decrease in the need for medical treatment and demands on health and social care

services across the life-course. It can also lead to a reduction in crime and anti-social

behaviour and increased social capital and community cohesion. Health-proofing masterplan

designs, alongside health impact assessment (HIA), can be one part of a localitys

programme of primary prevention and health promotion. Figure 1 on page 8 shows how

individual and community health and wellbeing can be affected by the physical developments

proposed in masterplan designs.

In addition, masterplan designs can include the siting and design of health centres, hospitals

and specialist units.

Why health-proof masterplan designs?

Though we all perceive and interact with the physical environment differently there are

general patterns in how we use places and spaces that are related to the personal, social,

economic and environmental resources that we have, or do not have. This means that those

with fewer resources and existing poor health and wellbeing are likely to be

disproportionately affected positively or negatively by the physical changes that a

masterplan brings.

6Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. (2009). Future health: sustainable places for

health and wellbeing.7

National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). (2008). Promoting and creating physicalenvironments that encourage and support physical activity.8

Foresight Programme and Horizon Scanning Centre, Department for Innovation, Universities andSkills. (2007). Tackling obesities: future choices.9

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. (2007). 26th

Report: The 4rban environment.10

National Heart Forum, Living Streets and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.2007). Building Health.11

National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE). (2011 in progress). Spatial planning for health: localauthorities and primary care trusts.

12 Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. (2006). Designed with care: design andneighbourhood healthcare buildings.13

Department of Health. (2004). Securing the health of the whole population. The Wanless Report.


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For example, in the UK, there are gender patterns in the use of space:141516

Approximately, 60% of office workers are women, 75%-80% of bus journeys are

undertaken by women and 30% of women have access to a car during the daytime. Therefore poor public transport, lack of child care facilities, shops and services not

located near residential locations can restrict womens access to the labour market

and to key services and amenities.

Similarly, there are cultural/ethnicity patterns in the use of space:171819

Muslim communities need access to a halal butcher; Jewish communities need

access to a kosher butcher; and some communities need ethnic grocers who can

source specific kinds of fruits and vegetables that are more difficult to find in

mainstream shops and supermarkets e.g. Afro-Caribbean and Asian grocers.

Most faith communities need a place to come together for worship and social

activities e.g. church, synagogue, mosque, temple or gurdwara.

And there are disability related patterns in the use of space: 20 21 22

Everyone at some point experiences limited mobility going on holiday with bulky

luggage, taking a toddler to the park, breaking a leg or having some other physical

health condition or feeling less confident of our balance as we get older. By

identifying barriers to inclusion early in the masterplan design process changes can

be made to minimise them.

Barriers can also be experienced by people with learning difficulties, mental ill health

and sensory impairments (visual, hearing and touch).

14Oxfam. (2007). A place for everyone? gender equality and urban planning, a ReGender Briefing

Paper.15

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). (2007). Gender and spatial planning good practice note.16

Department for Transport. (2006). Evidence base review on mobility: choices and barriers fordifferent social groups. Centre for Research in Social Policy.17

Academy for Sustainable Communities. (2006). Planning and engaging with interculturalcommunities.18

Joseph Rowntree Foundation. (2005). Faith in urban regeneration.19

Regeneration and the race equality duty, Commission for Racial Equality, 200720

Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment. (2006). The principles of inclusive design(they include you).

21 Womens Design Service. (2004). Disability and regeneration.22Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES). (2004). Disability and the regeneration agenda:

Making the Links.


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Figure 1 shows some of the ways that aspects of the physical environment - housing,

greenspace and transport - can affect both physical and mental health and wellbeing of new

and existing residents and people working in an area.

Inclusive design needs an understanding of how a space or building is likely to be used and

who will use it. Spaces and places need to be designed so that they can adapt to changing

uses and demands over time. Making environments easy for everyone to use also means

considering signage, lighting, visual contrast and materials.

Masterplan design teams do consider these aspects however public health

professionals can bring their knowledge and experience of a locality as well as a

public health and health equity/inequalities focus to:

how people adults and children are likely to move through and use

neighbourhoods including how they might socialise and meet up (which can sense

of belonging, feeling in control and feeling safe or unsafe);

the types and networks of roads and footpaths that there are (which can affect

physical activity and the use of active forms of transport);

peoples ability to access and use all the developments planned within a

masterplan area (schools, health centres, shops, etc.); and

the potential effects of increases or decreases in air, water, soil and noise

pollution.

Outline and detailed masterplan designs

This guide focuses on outline masterplans which are the types of masterplan designs that

are most often reviewed and consulted on (See Figure 2). These plans tend to show the

overall blocks of housing, greenspace and industrial/business areas without going into the

detail of the exact size, orientation and nature of the various developments. So, on theseoutline masterplans it is not always apparent what the size and number of houses or other

buildings there are likely to be in particular areas or the size of any garden or car parking

spaces that they might have.

Often, developers only go on to develop detailed designs when they have obtained outline

planning permission from a local planning authority (often this is the local authority).


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Figure 2: Illustrative example of a masterplan design24

24North Staffordshire RENEW. (2009) Middleport Regeneration Masterplan.


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Two case studies

Two real-life case studies from which this guide was developed are presented separately:

Case Study 1 is on the Middleport regeneration masterplan

Case Study 1 used a workshop-based approach to identify possible health and

wellbeing impacts and to develop a set of rapid recommendations using an early

version of the rapid health proofing review table shown in Appendix A of this guide.

Case Study 2 is on City Waterside East regeneration masterplan

Case Study 2 used a HIA practitioner led review with follow-up meetings with key

informants to develop a set of recommendations using the In-depth health impact

review table shown in Appendix B of this guide.

How to use this guide?

This guide is meant to be used flexibly and adapted to suit your specific needs and

circumstances.

How detailed should the analysis be?

This depends on the time and resource constraints that you are under to effectively influence

the design process. It therefore can be as rapid or in-depth as circumstances allow. Our

experience suggests that masterplan reviews can take as little as 2-4 hours or as long

as 2-3 days to complete.

When should the health-proofing be done?

The best time to have an influence on the masterplan design process is to provide public

health and healthy urban planning input from the early stages of the masterplan design

process before firm design options have been drawn up. At this stage, it will be possible to

influence the vision, ethos and design of the masterplan so that health and wellbeing are an

integral and embedded part of the developing designs and the masterplan process as a

whole.

However, often this is not possible and you are then most likely to be involved when a set of

two or more draft masterplan design options are being publically consulted on. It is at this

stage that a systematic review can be done on the positives and negatives of each of themasterplan designs from a public health and healthy urban planning perspective.


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A set of recommendations for the final preferred masterplan design can then be developed

about which positive aspects should be taken forward and which potentially negative aspects

should be removed or modified.

Is a health-proofing review of masterplans a substitute for HealthImpact Assessments of masterplans?

No, doing a health-proofing review of masterplan designs is not a substitute for a Health

Impact Assessment (HIA). However, HIAs are often commissioned late on in the

masterplanning process once the final preferred masterplan design option has been

developed. Health-proofing masterplan reviews are generally easier and quicker to do

and, when undertaken on draft designs, can provide at least 50% of the benefits of

doing a full rapid HIA at a later stage.

This is because a HIA of a masterplan in addition to reviewing masterplan designs will also

generally:

Undertake a community health and wellbeing profile to better understand the health,

social, economic and environmental challenges that existing residents.

Undertake a policy analysis.

Undertake specific community consultation.

Develop detailed mitigation and enhancement measures for the construction,

operation and decommissioning/refurbishment phases of a development.

Identify key health and wellbeing indicators to help monitor the implementation of a

development project in the short and long terms.

Can health-proofing masterplans support Strategic EnvironmentalAssessments and Sustainability Appraisals of masterplans?

Yes, doing a health proofing review of masterplan designs can support StrategicEnvironmental Assessments (SEA) and Sustainability Appraisals (SA) of masterplans.

However, SEAs and SAs do have very specific guidance on what health aspects need to be

included and these are similar to HIAs. These include:

Collecting baseline health data.

Developing SEA/SA objectives that encompass health and wellbeing.

Consult communities and other stakeholders.

Develop mitigation and enhancement measures.

Identify health and wellbeing monitoring indicators.


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Five steps to health-proofing masterplan designs

The five steps to reviewing masterplan designs is shown below. It is important to note that

the process is iterative and non-linear as issues and new information emerge which may

mean that earlier steps need to be revisited. Each of these steps will be considered in

greater detail in the following sections.

Get the Draft Masterplan Design Options (DMDOs)

and any background documents1

Review the Vision and Objectives

Review the DMDOs

Recommend, challenge and support designelements of the DMDOs

to protect and enhance health and wellbeing

Do a Follow Up Review of the Final MasterplanDesign

4

2

3

5

FIVE STEPS TO HEALTH-PROOFING MASTERPLAN DESIGNS


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The masterplan designs can be obtained either from the masterplan design team, with the

permission of the masterplan commissioner, or directly from the commissioner.

This is usually done when there is a public consultation on two or more draft masterplan

designs and community and other stakeholder feedback is being used by the client and

masterplan design team to inform the development of the final preferred masterplan design.

Background documents that are useful to review alongside the masterplan designs, where

available, include:

Baseline studies (demographic, social, economic, transport and environmental)

Feedback from any community involvement undertaken in and around the

masterplan area

Background documents can help you gain a better understanding of the local community andthe likely vulnerable groups within it. Key groups to consider include:

Children and young people

Women Older people

People with disabilities or long term health problems People from different ethnic backgrounds People on low incomes

It is important to consider these groups in relation to the different types of places and spaces

that are within the masterplan designs. These can be divided into six broad categories:

Houses and flats Green, blue and play space (e.g. parks, rivers, canals and playgrounds) Built open public spaces Routes (e.g. roads, paths and cycleways) Facilities and amenities (e.g. schools, shops and community centres)

Industrial and business premises

The masterplan designs will need to consider the different needs of each of these groups

and the different ways they tend to perceive and interact with the above places and spaces.

STEP 1:

GET THE DRAFT MASTERPLAN DESIGN OPTIONS (DMDOs)


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Developing a relationship with the masterplan design team and discussing frankly what you

and they hope to achieve is more likely to ensure that:

the masterplan design team see health and wellbeing as an aspect that they need to

consider throughout the design process and

the health-proofing reviews recommendations are taken forward.

Such a relationship also makes it possible for the design team to communicate effectively

and respond promptly to your requests which is especially useful when there are tight

deadlines for feeding back.

Where possible, it is best to connect with the design team at an early stage prior to the

development of the masterplans as this can ensure that the consideration of health and

wellbeing are embedded within the masterplan design process. At this early stage, as there

are no masterplans to review conducting a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities andThreats (SWOT) Analysis on the development area can be an effective way of identifying the

important health and wellbeing challenges and opportunities.

GOOD TO DO:

CONNECTING WITH THE MASTERPLAN DESIGN TEAM


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The first element that should be reviewed is the Vision, Objectives and Rationale for the

overall masterplan.

The review of the Vision, Objectives and Rationale should analyse the degree to which

health, wellbeing and health inequalities/inequity issues are explicitly or implicitly considered

and whether the achievement of the vision and objectives would maximise the positive health

and wellbeing benefits of the masterplan for all residents.

Two other documents that should be reviewed alongside the Vision, Objectives and

Rationale, where available, are the:

Design and Access Statement which identifies the spatial issues and opportunities

and explains how the objectives for the masterplan, including any specific objectives

on healthy living, will lead to a high quality, healthy and sustainable built environment.

The Implementation Plan which can explain how some specific non-commercial and

off-site benefits, such as new subsidised bus services and parks will be funded.

Some aspects of a masterplan that are important for health and wellbeing, such as

provision of greenspace, generally cannot be required of private developers through

planning conditions alone and must be done by legal agreements such as a Section

106 Agreement or Developer Contributions with the scheme developer; or as a

condition placed on the sale of public land to the developer.

STEP 2:

REVIEW THE VISION AND OBJECTIVES


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This is a useful aspect of the review process that provides first hand experience of the local

area undergoing regeneration or redevelopment.

It also reveals the spatial relationships of existing buildings, and potentially peoples

interactions with them, something which cannot easily be understood just by looking at

masterplan designs.

A visit to the masterplan area should consider:

A walk through the area outside of the masterplan area, ideally approaching it on foot

from different directions.

A general walk through the masterplan area, taking photos and noting any special

characteristics such as:

o street layout and pattern

o presence of foot and cycle pathso presence of bus or tram stops and frequency of buses/trams

o local heritage sites

o green and blue space

o quality and condition of local buildings

o atmosphere of and noise in the area

o sense of personal safety

o number and range of local businesses

o activity or lack of it in the public realm/open spaces

o number and range of services and amenities e.g. health centre, shops,

schools, parks

o obstacles to pedestrian movement

o ease of understanding the street layout and navigation through the streets/

roads (legibility and wayfinding)

o accessibility by able-bodied and disabled residents to services, amenities and

facilities.

Using public transport provided in the area to get a feel of how well the services are

connected and the ease of getting around the area on the public transport network.

GOOD TO DO:

VISITING THE PROPOSED SITE OF THE MASTERPLAN


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At first glance looking at masterplans can be quite daunting especially when there are main

design drawings and supplementary ones that focus on specific issues such as the transport

network. This can mean that three design options generate six designs, three main ones plus

three supplementary ones focusing on the transport network.

First Rapid Look:

The first look should take a comparative overview of the designs as a whole, noting the

different emphases placed on different development elements within each of the designs.

Firstly, what are the functionaldifferences that will result from each design e.g. does one

design option favour road users more than another; what is the balance between commercial

development and residential development; how do green, blue and open spaces connect to

each other?

Secondly, what spatialrelationships can be identified e.g. which design option gives the best

access to nearby facilities; which would be best integrated with the surrounding community;

which would create the best focus for the new community; which offers most choice in living

and working arrangements?

As described earlier the key spatial and development elements to consider are:

Houses and flats

Green, blue and play space (e.g. parks, rivers, canals and playgrounds)

Built open public spaces

Routes (e.g. roads, paths and cycleways)

Facilities and amenities (e.g. schools, shops and community centres)

Industrial and business premises

Jot down your initial thoughts for each design. Do not worry about being rapid, unsystematic

or intuitive at this stage.

STEP 3:

REVIEW THE DRAFT MASTERPLAN DESIGN OPTIONS


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It is important to be aware of your own personal dislikes and likes in relation to urban design

and to be as objective as you can be so that you can ensure that your personal views do not

bias the review.

Use Google or Bing Maps (or any other online mapping site that allows images to be used for

non-commercial purposes) to produce a satellite overview map of the area. This can be cut

out and pasted using either the PRINT SCREEN key or relatively cheap specialist software

such as SNAGIT.

Sometimes the masterplan design team have already identified positives and negatives of

each of the draft designs. In such cases, you should critically assess the masterplan design

teams views as well as the masterplan designs.

You should also assess what aspects of each design option are likely to support or hinder

the achievement of the stated vision, aims and objectives of the masterplan.

Supplementary designs focusing on specific elements of the design options, e.g. the

transport network, should also be assessed comparatively and in terms of their spatial

relationship to the masterplan design. This is because they will also influence the whole

layout and character of the design option.

Lastly, it is important to consider what is present and what is/may be happening outside of

the boundaries of the masterplan design area.

Second Systematic Look

Presented in the Appendices are two tables that can be used to guide the systematic look:

Rapid Masterplan Health Proofing Review Table (See Appendix A)

In-Depth Masterplan Health Proofing Review Table (See Appendix B)

The Rapid Health Impact Review Table is most useful when there is limited time to

influence the masterplanning process and/or a workshop for a range of community

and professional stakeholders is used to analyse the masterplan designs. It can take

between 2-4 hours to complete.


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The recommendations should challenge and support the masterplan design team to further

protect and enhance health and wellbeing within the context of what can be achieved

through physical and spatial changes. Masterplan design teams in turn may challenge your

recommendations and/or seek clarification. The recommendations therefore can become a

starting point for discussion and negotiation around the best set of elements that will

maximise the potential positive and minimise the potential negative health and wellbeing

impacts.

The review of the masterplan design options and the recommendations should be written up

in the form of a short paper that should include:

when the analysis was done

who was present

what format was used to identify issues e.g. workshop, small group, individual

analysis

Images of the masterplan designs and specific parts of the designs that you want to focus on

can improve the clarity of your recommendations and make it easier for the masterplan

design team to understand which aspect of the design options you are discussing and why.

Images can be cut from PDFs using Adobe Readers inbuilt SNAPSHOT tool . In Adobe

Acrobat Reader Version 9 it is found under the TOOLS menu under SELECT & ZOOM.25

There may also be issues which need to be clarified by the masterplan design team or

cannot be answered by the masterplan design team at this stage. These questions and

issues, and any answers that have been received, should also be written up in the Health-

Proofing Review Paper.

25 The cutting and pasting of images from a copyright perspective would generally be considered fairuse for the purposes of review or criticism as the draft masterplan design options are publiclyavailable or provided for review.

STEP 4:

RECOMMEND, CHALLENGE AND SUPPORT DESIGNELEMENTS TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE HEALTH AND

WELLBEING


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The recommendations that are put forward should be well thought out and realistic because

modifications to a masterplan design may be limited by the geographical nature of the

locality, financial resources, legal constraints and the timescales of the project.

For example, it may be difficult for the masterplan design team to modify landmarks that are

part of the areas heritage especially if they are listed (i.e. considered of historical importance

and therefore protected under law from modification or removal).

The traditions and culture of the area should be taken into account when making

recommendations in order to complement and enhance existing cultures rather than

suggesting changes that are out of keeping or in conflict with them.

It is important to acknowledge and note the good features of the masterplan design options

and the important role the good elements are likely to play in enhancing health and

wellbeing.

Recommendations do not always have to suggest new ideas they can simply be a matter of

suggesting that the different positive aspects of each of the masterplan design options be

combined to form the final preferred masterplan design.


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There may be aspects of the development proposal that cannot be illustrated on the

masterplan designs. Some of this information may be available in accompanying documents

like the Design and Access Statement or the Implementation Plan. Where it is not found in

such documents, and even when it is, it is useful to discuss questions and issues directly

with the masterplan design team and the masterplan commissioner. This feedback should be

used to inform the recommendations of the review.

Some of the issues that you may need to seek clarification on include:

What one or more drawing elements are meant to represent?

What housing mix is being proposed?

What provision there is for affordable and key worker housing?

What types of employment uses are there likely to be in the commercial

developments being proposed?

What play areas and equipment are likely to be placed in existing and new

greenspaces?

Where are bus stops and shelters likely to be located and what new public transport

routes are being planned, if any?

What kinds of commercial shops and commercial or public services are likely to be

located in any new buildings shown?

GOOD TO DO:

SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM THE MASTERPLAN DESIGN TEAM

AND MASTERPLAN COMMISSIONER


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It is important to check which changes have been taken on board and which have not and

the reasons why. It is also important to check that changes agreed during discussions with

the master planning team have been incorporated into the text and or designs of the

masterplan document. This follow up can take the form of a final review meeting with the

masterplan design team.

Remember, there may be financial, geological, feasibility and other constraints that prevent

certain recommendations from being implemented.

It is also useful to consider at this stage, the potential implementation phase (demolition

and/or construction) health and wellbeing impacts and talk to the local planning team about

how you could be involved during this phase.

STEP 5:

DO A FOLLOW UP REVIEW OF THE FINAL MASTERPLAN

DESIGN


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Conclusion

This guide provides one useful way to ensure that draft and final masterplan design options

are developed with public health and healthy urban planning principles in mind. This is

particularly so in situations where time and resource constraints mean that a HIA is not

possible.

Systematically going through the steps described in this guide and ensuring that the findings

inform the masterplanning process and the final masterplan design will quickly health-proof

the design in a rapid, robust and relevant way.

It enables public health and HIA professionals with limited time, money and other resources

to feed into the masterplanning process at a stage when changes are relatively easy to

make.

This guide can also support a Health Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental

Assessment or Sustainability Appraisal process to assess the positive and negative health

and wellbeing impacts of draft and final masterplan design options.

Lastly, we hope that this guide can contribute to the development of closer partnership

working on healthy and sustainable urban planning and design by making public health

professionals in the widest sense more skilled at reviewing masterplan designs and

planning professionals in the public and private sectors more aware of the issues that

public health and HIA professionals are concerned about.


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APPENDIX A:

Rapid Health-Proofing Review Table

APPENDIX

A


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Rapid Masterplan Health-Proofing Review Table

Masterplan Design Option:.

Review Questions Analysis

Easy to understand/ Enhancing control

Do proposed development areas reinforcethe sense of place or conflict with it? Is therea clear pattern of development that makessense on the ground to pedestrians? Arespatial elements used in a way likely to helppeople unfamiliar with the area to navigatethrough it?

Integrated within the wider area

Do the blocks of new housing fit with theexisting blocks of housing? Is thereaffordable/key worker housing?

Useful greenspace

Does all greenspace have a clear use? Isthere a variety of recreational and wildspaces, providing opportunities for exerciseand contemplation for all age and interestgroups? Is greenspace adequate,maintained, and improved? Is there provisionfor allotments/communal gardening? Is it

accessible? Is existing greenspace wellused?

Good connections

Do roads and routes connect residents orserve to cut them off (physical/communityseverance)? Are pedestrian routesreasonably direct and logical? Do cyclewaysand long distance paths form a coherent andconnected linked set of routes? Docycleways have priority over cars? Are theresufficient public benches to provide restingplaces and so encourage elderly and less

active residents to go out unassisted? Isthere good signposting?

Transport options

Are public transport links developed (bus,tram, ferry)? Will there be frequent, regularand reliable services using the publictransport routes?

Community heart or centre

Is there a public space, a service/amenitieshub, a local community centre that serves asthe heart/central meeting point for the area?


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Review Questions Analysis

A good range of local services, amenitiesand facilities

What kinds of public services, amenities andfacilities are planned? Are there any gaps inservice?

Safe streets and outdoor spaces

Are there good natural surveillanceopportunities on streets, long distancerecreational paths and public spaces fromsurrounding buildings? Are there likely to begood numbers of people using the streets

and spaces? If not are there alternativebusier routes that will make people feel saferduring quiet times of the day?

A good mixture of uses

How well are the different uses integratedwithin the area? Does the pattern ofdevelopment; building orientation; densityand proximity of uses encourage ordiscourage walking?

Integrated in the wider community

How does the proposed development linkwith other adjacent neighbourhoods? Dobuildings face or turn their backs onneighbouring roads and spaces? Are theregood and logical pedestrian and road linkswith neighbouring communities?

Sense of pride

Are cherished local buildings and spacesrespected and enhanced? Are there anylocal art/distinctive landmark/ architectureplanned to build and create a revived sense

of place/community identity? Is artworkincorporated into the development? Do youthink the area would feel distinctive andspecial; bringing about a sense of pride inthe community?

Re-purposing existing buildings

Is there a balance between refurbishing andre-using vs. demolishing buildings?

Recommendations

Recommendations for the final preferred

masterplan design.


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APPENDIX B:

In-Depth Health-Proofing Review Table

APPENDIX

B


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In-Depth Masterplan Health-Proofing Review Table


Healthy UrbanPlanning Principles

Regeneration/DevelopmentObjectives to Consider

Yes/ No/Not Sure

Potential positive health/wellbeing impacts

Potential negative heawellbeing impacts

Does the developmentencourage and promotephysical activity e.g. walkingand cycling through provision ofa connected network ofpavements/footpaths andcycleways?

What types of amenities,

facilities and public services areplanned or exist already, that isnearby?

Healthy Lifestyle

What existing sports/leisurefacilities are there and will theycope with any increase inpopulation?

Does the development enhancepeoples sense of control?

Is there one or more accessibleoutdoor public spaces e.g.plazas, central open spaces?

Social Cohesion(i.e. integration betweencommunities and activeengagement ofcommunities inneighbourhoodactivities)

Is there provision for a localcommunity centre or indoorpublic space where residentsand community groups can


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Yes/ No/Not Sure



meet and carry out activitiese.g. mother and toddler groups,youth work groups, communitydevelopment activities?

Do the new and/or existingcommercial developmentscomplement the residentialdevelopments and the widerneighbourhood or does thecommercial dominate theresidential?

Is there integration betweenexisting housing and newhousing e.g. does new housingrespect well established andpopular street forms, reinforceand overlook local streets andspaces and face buildingentrances towards rather thanaway from neighbours?

How do new routes and roadsaffect the community setting?

(physical and communityseverance)

Building quality(Housing andemployment sites)

What sustainable and healthybuilding standards will be usedfor the residential andcommercial developments e.g.


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Yes/ No/Not Sure



very good or higher BREEAMstandard, Level 4 or higher forthe Code for SustainableHomes, Silver or HigherBuilding for Life Standard,adherence to Lifetime HomesStandards, adherence to HomeZone Design principles?

What is the mix of house typesproposed in terms of numberand size of rooms, private

gardens and car parking space?

Has provision been made foraffordable and key workerhousing?

Will there be a mix of tenurese.g. private rental and owneroccupied?

Is there a balance betweenrefurbishing and re-using vs.demolishing existing buildings?

Access toemploymentopportunities

Are there local employers withinwalking/cycling distance oraccessible by public transport?


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Yes/ No/Not Sure



Is there provision of distinct anddeveloped cycle and footpaths?

What provisions have beenmade for public transport e.g.new routes, bus stops/shelters,etc?

Are the different transportationmodes linked/ integrated toencourage mixed use?

Is there identified space forlocal retail shops and otheramenities?

Accessibility

Is there provision of key publicservices nearby e.g. healthcentre?

Will there be any communityallotments? If so will this besufficient for the likely to meetresidents requirements?

Local low-inputfood productionor sale

Will there be shops providingfresh fruit and vegetables and afairly wide choice of foods? Howwill the plan ensure that healthyfood is sold in at least some ofthe shops?


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Yes/ No/Not Sure



Will there be a food /farmersmarket?

Is there natural surveillancethrough the street design andbuilding orientation e.g. througha choice of street forms withshort cul-de-sacs feeding onto awell connected street network?

Are there enough safe anddirect pedestrian and cyclistscrossing points on local roads?

Safety

Are there safe paths on localgreen and adjacent to bluespace (parks, and canals,waterways)?

Does the development target anexisting environmentally andsocially deprived area?

Do existing residents gain asmuch as potential newresidents?

Equity

Will there be telephone andbroadband, TV and radioaccess?


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Yes/ No/Not Sure



Does the development enhancethe resilience of new andexisting residents and workers?

Air quality andgood living andworkingenvironment

Could air pollution and/orexposure to air pollution beincreased e.g. because ofindustrial development, moreroads leading to potentiallymore cars, loss of trees andshrubs that acted as natural

barriers to particulates?

Could the new developmentimpact on the quality andadequacy of access to cleanwater and provision ofsewerage for new and existingresidents?

Water andsanitation

See Land and mineralresources and Climatestability below.

Has the use of natural andmanufactured permeablesurfaces been maximised toreduce surface water run-offs

and potential for flooding/ seweroverflows?

Land and mineralresources

(Including green and

Is existing used, accessibleand/or high quality green andblue space protected?


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Yes/ No/Not Sure



Are new agricultural activitiesproposed?

Are new mining activitiesproposed or are existing miningactivities likely to be affected?

Are buildings future-proofed forpossible 2-5 degrees ofwarming and wetter weather?

Are new sewer systemsdesigned to cope with increasedrainfall/ surface water runoff?

Will there be trees planted onroads, an increase in localparks and private gardens toreduce the potential heatisland effect in urban areas,provide shade, and reduce anypotential risks of waterway andsewer flooding?

Will there be renewable micro-generation through solar panelsor wind turbines?

Climate stability

(Adaptation andmitigation of thepotential health impactsclimate change)

Will there be an Energy fromWaste facility or combined heatand power plant?


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Centre for Health Impact Assessment

Health-Proofing Masterplan Designs: A Guide v1.1

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Transcript of Health-Proofing Masterplan Designs: A Guide v1.1