Policy HC1 – Promoting Healthy Communities

The council will seek to ensure that all new developments maximise opportunities to promote healthy and active lifestyles. New developments should be designed, constructed and managed in ways that improve health and promote healthy lifestyles. This will include supporting active travel options, improving accessibility to local service centres, reducing the use of private car travel, adequate provision of public open space, leisure and recreation facilities, high quality design and promoting balanced communities and sustainable neighbourhoods. Planning permission will be granted for proposals that help to sustain and improve neighbourhoods in all parts of the city. Health and wellbeing is an important consideration during the development management process and significant development proposals will require to demonstrate how they contribute towards promoting healthy communities. The council will require the submission of a HIA as part of major residential, commercial and industrial developments or other proposals with potential to have a significant adverse effect on public health and wellbeing. The council may seek to secure health and wellbeing improvement measures by way of s76 planning agreement. This may be by way of agreed works carried out by the developer or a financial contribution from the developer in lieu of such provision.