Health and Environmental Impact Assessment. Lucy Wood Environmental Planning Director 14 th December 2016

Transcription

1 Health and Environmental Impact Assessment Lucy Wood Environmental Planning Director 14 th December 2016

2 Agenda What does the EIA Directive 2014 (2014/52/EU) require? Examples of health impact assessments for development within and outside EIA Example 1. Urban extension in Suffolk Example 2. Residential-led development in the London Borough of Greenwich Integrating health into EIA from May 2017 Potential methodologies Potential challenges Questions

3 Requirements of EIA Directive 2014 (2014/52/EU) The environmental impact assessment shall identify, describe and assess in an appropriate manner in the light of each individual case, the direct and indirect significant effects of a project on the following factors: (a) population and human health ; Note - Expanded from population only. Population has been interpreted as including health in some cases to date so the practice is not entirely new.

4 Example 1. West of Brandon, Suffolk Up to 1,600 dwellings Primary school Link road Some commercial / retail floorspace Green infrastructure Outline planning application submitted in May 2015 Cross boundary application Forest Heath and Breckland, Norfolk and Suffolk Application currently being revised and a package of further information prepared to support the application.

5 EIA development Health impacts: Demand on primary healthcare infrastructure (GPs and dentists) Wider health impacts requested through the scoping process. Adjacent wastewater treatment plant with cordon sanitaire Methodology: desk-based, part quantitative, part qualitative, significance criteria Drawing on other ES chapters: transport (provision for walking and cycling combatting obesity epidemic) noise (NPPF para 123 noise and adverse effects on health and quality of life air quality (emissions have direct health impact) land contamination (conceptual site model included future residents as sensitive receptor) etc.

6 Example 2. Abbey Place, Greenwich Not EIA development Cross Quarter, Abbey Wood, Greenwich 208 dwellings 90-room hotel Flexible commercial space (A1-A5/B1/D1) Policy 3.2 of the London Plan, the impacts of major development proposals on the health and wellbeing of communities should be considered, for example through the use of HIA. Greenwich Policy CH2 Healthy Communities requires HIA to support applications for major development

7 Methodology: Desk-based approach, qualitative agreed with LPA. London Health Urban Development Unit (HUDU) Healthy Urban Planning Checklist used to screen the health impacts. This has four main themes: Healthy housing; Active travel; Healthy environment; and Vibrant neighbourhoods. Planning application documents and emerging design used to complete the checklist. HUDU Rapid Health Impact Assessment Tool used to undertake the main assessment.

8 HUDU Rapid Health Impact Assessment Tool has eleven topics against which the development was assessed: Housing quality and design; Access to healthcare services and other social infrastructure; Access to open space and nature; Air quality, noise and neighbourhood amenity; Accessibility and active travel; Crime reduction and community safety; Access to healthy food; Access to work and training; Social cohesion and lifetime neighbourhoods; Minimising the use of resources; and Climate change.

9 Limited scope for health enhancements due to small site and location within dense urban area had to be creative. Assessment was supplemented by a review of the UK Green Building Council Health and Wellbeing in Homes document - highlights that it is vital to consider mental, social and physical health and wellbeing.

10 Snapshots from the assessment Accessibility and Active Travel Assessment criteria Relevant? Potential health impact? Recommended mitigation or enhancement actions Does the proposal prioritise and encourage walking (such as through shared spaces?) Yes No N/A Pedestrian access to and from the site will be improved as a result of the proposed development by increasing the public realm at ground floor, both in terms of the quantity of space provided for pedestrian routes, improvement of the ground-scape, collaboration with proposed public realm works being implemented by Crossrail and Bexley Council and an increase of activity along Felixstowe Road. Positive Negative Neutral Uncertain Recommended Enhancement Action: The Travel Plan or residents welcome pack could also include a section on safe walking routes to local parks and green spaces to encourage physical and mental wellbeing.

11 Access to Healthy Food Assessment criteria Relevant? Details/evidence Potential health impact? Recommended mitigation or enhancement actions Does the proposal facilitate the supply of local food, i.e. allotments, community farms and farmers markets? Does the proposal avoid contributing to an overconcentration of hot food takeaways in the local area? Yes No N/A Yes No N/A No, the proposed development does not include any measures to facilitate the supply of local food. The proposed development will provide a range of commercial uses, potentially including A5 (hot food and takeaway use) to maintain a viable development. Given the range of uses applied for, it is unlikely the development will lead to a concentration of takeaways. A variety of uses are envisaged including those with positive connotations for health Positive Negative Neutral Uncertain Positive Negative Neutral Uncertain Recommended Mitigation Action: Provide residents with a welcome pack that includes details of local Farmers Markets. The welcome pack could also include details on applying for an allotment (there are 18 allotment sites in RBG). Recommended Action: Enhancement When selecting tenants for commercial floorspace, consider proposed use and potential for adverse effects on health.

12 Integrating health into EIA from 16 May 2017 Only if potential to give rise to likely significant effects Each project different. Some industry sectors more likely to affect health Different levels of assessment likely to be suitable for different types of project Defining significance is likely to be qualitative and a judgment call

13 Potential methodologies and challenges 1. Scope WHO definition: Mobility Impaired Well Fit a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity Part of community Physical Social Mental Scared Stressed Not fitting in Anxious Depressed Happy

14 Potential methodologies and challenges 2. Continued Drawing on other technical assessments like the first example Independent assessment against agreed criteria like the second example Desk-based or participatory? Bespoke significance criteria or using criteria from other assessments as a proxy? Usefulness of baseline data Causation Perceived versus actual effects e.g. noise, emotive issues High degree of subjectivity Proportionate