Planning and health examined in new paper

THE potential impact of planning policies on people’s health is examined in a new paper, issued by the national agency for “improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of all of Scotland’s people”.

Begins the paper, published by Public Health Scotland (here): “The way we plan and design the built environment can have a profound impact on people’s health and wellbeing. By working together and taking a ‘whole systems approach’, Scottish public authorities can improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.”

The paper adds: “This briefing was prompted by the introduction of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, the forthcoming fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) and the adoption of Scotland’s six public health priorities.

“These changes provide a timely opportunity to develop practical guidance for both land use planning and public health practitioners and policy-makers, to help them take health and wellbeing considerations into account when considering the development planning process (the production of Local Development Plans) and the development management process (making decisions on planning applications).”

Picture credit: Place Design Scotland

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