A HIA policy should provide support for elderly housing including health care (for example a dementia home), sheltered and assisted housing. Given the aging population and extended life expectancy ages, positive planning and allocation of suitable land use in forward plans is now essential.

Well connected and high quality GI will be an essential element of planning for healthy living.

Support the proposal of specific policy to better shape HIAs

We welcome the clarification of HIA and would suggest that the policy include the requirement for practical actions / mitigations at an early stage of any development rather than being left to the final stages, or not delivered at all.

We welcome this development and expect to be involved on the development of this policy.

HIA should only be required if significant impact has been identified and evidenced

If any policy is to be developed requiring health impact assessments, it should be proportionate to the size of development proposed, ie an HIA should not be required for small planning applications, particularly where the principle of development is already established through an allocation, unless there is demonstrable potential for a significant (negative) health impact.

Should include specific guidance on what's required in an HIA

The NPPG is also clear that Local Authorities are responsible for addressing health issues. It is not appropriate to transfer this responsibility to applicants through the requirement to produce an HRA on individual planning applications, particularly if Health Impact Assessments have not been carried out during the preparation of the Local Plan.

I support this proposal.