No weighting for healthy sustainable local planning: Evaluation of a participatory appraisal tool for rationality and inclusivity

Grant, Marcus; Barton, Hugh

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the contribution that project, plan and policy appraisal can make to effective decision making when shaping a built environment that needs to respond to the demands of local voices and also concerns for global sustainability and for population well-being. It argues that effectiveness depends on appraisal processes being rational, based on sound science, and also inclusive, involving stakeholders and implementers. A particular problem in all respects is the widespread reliance of decision makers on methods that use weighting. Although these give the appearance of validity, authority and objectivity, the paper argues that such methods are not compatible with the key tenets of appraisal and decision making that can address the challenges of localism, sustainability, health and inclusion. The paper advocates and evaluates a new technique, SPECTRUM, trialled in practice, which has been developed to meet these challenges. Specific attention is paid to its role in the development of the award winning ICON housing scheme in the Houndwood development at Street in Somerset, England. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2013
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 2, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management
• Print ISSN: 0964-0568
• Electronic ISSN: 1360-0559
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 56
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 1267-1289
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2012.717887
• Keywords: health impact assessment, HIA, action research, ; environmental impact assessment, EIA, evaluation methods, ; sustainability, collaborative appraisal, consensus building, healthy urban planning
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/938325
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2012.717887
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Environmental Planning and Management in 2013, available online: http://wwww.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09640568.2012.717887
• Contract Date: Dec 2, 2016