Health Impact Assessment

Health Impact Assessment and Spatial Planning

Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) should form part of some planning applications. For example, for major development sites or for smaller developments in areas of the poorest health.

What is HIA?

HIA is a tool that aims to inform planning decisions by:

• identifying the likely health impacts a development may have
• judging if those impacts will be positive or negative
• suggesting how the effects of positive impacts could be increased, and negative impacts reduced

Why is a HIA required for some applications?

All Council departments, including planning, have a duty to promote and protect health and reduce inequalities. This duty is set out in the Health and Social Care Act (2012).

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) outlines the purpose and key principles of the planning system. These include the creation of strong, vibrant and healthy communities.

Where to get help with HIA?

To help you carry out a HIA we have created a planning toolkit. Further advice and support to carry out a HIA is available from the Public Health team at hia@wakefield.gov.uk

If you need an accessible version of the HIA tool, please contact the Public Health team via email.