Brighton proposes considering health impact in planning applications

The Council is running a consultation on a proposed change to the planning process, which will require some larger planning applications to submit a Health Impact Assessment (HIA).

The planning change would mean that all strategic and larger developments in Brighton would need to submit a HIA for their application to receive validation, the process by which the Council ensures all relevant information is considered in an application decision.

The proposal supports the implementation of Brighton’s local planning policy, set out in the City Plan, which aims to promote a healthy city for all.

Cllr Marianna Ebel, lead member for planning policy, said: ‘As we recover from the pandemic it is more important than ever to design buildings, places and infrastructure that protect and promote health and wellbeing.

‘By including HIAs as part of applications, we can help to ensure planning for health is part of the built and natural environment from the design stage and make positive impacts on the health of those who live, work and visit the city.’

The consultation will run until 5 September, with the results discussed by the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee in September 2021, before a decision is made on whether to include the HIA in the local list of validation documents.

A full review of the local list of documents that need to be submitted in a planning application will take place in 2022, which was delayed to allow for updates to local policies, changes to national planning legislation, and the publication of part two of the City Plan.

In related news, homeowners and developers will save time and money with two new apps that that speed up the processing of applications for extensions and home improvements.

Photo by Glenn Carstens-Peters