Cross-sector collaboration for healthy urban environments: Evaluating the protocol between Bristol City Council’s planning department and the local public health authority

Carmichael, Laurence

Abstract

Cross-sector collaboration for healthy urban environments: evaluating the protocol between Bristol City’s planning department and the local public health authority

Category: Improving the wider determinants of health

This paper reports on the evaluation of the protocol between Bristol City Council and NHS Bristol aimed to ensure that principles of health and wellbeing are considered when assessing and determining planning applications. The protocol developed in the context of increasing evidence that the built environment is a determinant of health.
Analysis of planning applications, surveys and interviews of planners assessed to what extent NHS Bristol have been able to influence planning decisions and health knowledge of planners between May 2011 and August 2012.



Key results

The protocol emphasises health as key outcome for development management. By reinforcing the position of other experts, it upholds local and national standards. It also helped build health awareness of planners. Implementation barriers include limited human resources, difference in evidence base used in public health and development planning and planning process itself.

Broad evidence base used by NHS Bristol and repetitions of guidance in consecutive applications suggests that health expertise could effectively inform future iterations of local planning policies and standards and other local health friendly policies.

Relevance to public health

In the context of a reintegration of public health into local government, the paper shows that the involvement of public health practitioners in planning decisions and policies can help deliver health outcomes of the built environment through cross-sector working and bringing a broad and robust evidence base to local policies. Health and Well-being Boards have an opportunity to support the development of local policies and institutional resource through their membership, partnerships and JSNA priorities.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Public Health England Conference 2013
• Start Date: Jun 7, 2013
• End Date: Jun 7, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 7, 2019
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: cross-sector collaboration, healthy urban environments, Bristol City Council, planning department, local public health authority
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/927853
• Additional Information: Title of Conference or Conference Proceedings : Public Health England - Annual Conference 2013