Part B Development Management Policy - Draft Local Plan for Buckinghamshire (Reg 18)

2. Development Management Policies - Social environment

2.62 Health Impact Assessment

2.62.1 HIAs are a powerful lever to improve public health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities. The impacts on, and enablers of, good physical and mental health should be considered in the early stages of development proposals, often at pre-application stage.

2.62.2 HIAs should demonstrate how a development proposal contributes to addressing current and projected health and wellbeing needs across the user's lifespan, to reduce health inequalities, meet the needs of vulnerable groups, promote health equity and enhance stakeholder engagement. The Council will support proposals that actively reduce health inequalities, prevent ill-health and promote healthier lifestyles, improving the health and wellbeing of our existing and new communities.

2.62.3 A HIA is used to identify the potential positive and negative health and wellbeing impacts of a proposed development on population health. It should demonstrate how, through appropriate measures, any potential negative outcomes may be mitigated, and any benefits maximised, to reduce health inequalities and promote healthy, inclusive and safe places. It will also inform design and detail and include early involvement of public health, planning officers and applicants.

2.62.4 All major developments meeting any of the criteria set out in Policy SE1 will be required to submit a HIA demonstrating how the development contributes to shaping healthy communities and delivering high quality sustainable places. The HIA will identify the positive health impacts and minimise the negative health impacts across 6 key themes (neighbourhood design, healthy homes, healthier food environments, natural and sustainable environments, transport and movement and healthy economy) to maximise the opportunities for promoting healthy lifestyles within new developments. Applicants should refer to the council's toolkit for the methodology.

2.63 Fast food outlets and takeaways

2.63.1 The NPPF states that local planning authorities should refuse applications for fast food outlets and takeaways within walking distance of schools and other places where children and young people congregate or in locations where there is evidence that a concentration of such uses is having an adverse impact on local health and wellbeing.

2.63.2 In Buckinghamshire, there is evidence that the distribution of fast food outlets and takeaways within walking distance of schools and concentrations in areas of deprivation contributes to poor diet, child obesity and health inequalities, thus having an adverse impact on the health of local communities. This evidence is set out in the Health and Wellbeing Evidence Study. This policy supports Buckinghamshire's Joint Local Health and Wellbeing strategy – 2035 to improve population health, reduce the high prevalence of child obesity and to tackle health inequalities. It contributes to Buckinghamshire's Whole Systems Approach to a Healthy Weight to create healthier food environments.

2.63.3 Walking distance is typically measured as 400m 'as the crow flies’ from the main entrance of a school or place where children congregate. This distance equates to approximately a 5-10 minute walk. Planning decisions should consider any major physical barriers (e.g. motorways or rivers) that would prevent children being exposed to an outlet on walking routes to schools, playgrounds or leisure centres.

2.63.4 This policy applies to new fast food outlets and takeaways that are subject to planning application processes. Fast food outlets refer to businesses selling fast food where consumption may take place on or off the premises or through online delivery services, delivery apps and websites. Fast food refers to energy dense food (i.e., calories, kcal per gram of food) that is available quickly and is often high in fat, sugar and salt. Fast food outlets cover a range of outlets selling fast food including, but not limited to burgers, pizza, kebabs, chicken, Indian takeaway, Chinese takeaway and fish and chips. Takeaways refer to the sale of hot food where consumption of that food is mostly undertaken off the premises. Fast food and takeaways delivery-only models, commonly referred to as dark kitchens, are facilities that prepare hot food for delivery only without the option for the public to enter the premises.

2.64 Community food growing

2.64.1 The National Planning Policy Framework identifies community food growing and access to healthier food as a means to enabling and supporting healthy lives. Ensuring access to community food growing spaces aligns with the framework's goal of fostering healthy, inclusive environments that encourage social interaction. These spaces create opportunities for people to connect, including those who might not typically engage with one another.

2.64.2 Community food growing supports Buckinghamshire Council's Whole Systems Approach to a Healthy Weight by fostering healthier local food environments. It also aligns with Buckinghamshire's Healthy Ageing Strategy 2024-2029, helping to reduce social isolation and loneliness.

2.64.3 Community food growing opportunities provide residents with access to spaces to grow food. Community food gardens are local spaces where residents or community groups come together to grow food. Allotments are small plots of land let to individuals for food growing purposes. The provision and conservation of parish and council-owned allotments are protected under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 and the Allotments Act 1925 as amended by subsequent legislation. Community orchards are places for people to come together to plant and cultivate fruit trees or nut trees.

2.64.4 Community food growing opportunities support residents' physical and mental health, provide access to healthy food and green spaces, with opportunities to be active, meet others and participate in society. These spaces support social cohesion and inter-generational interactions by enabling and bringing people together from diverse backgrounds and ages, around a common interest. They provide relief for households on food costs and often donate surplus food to local charities. These spaces can support knowledge and skill development in food production, distribution, preparation and waste, and support cooking initiatives and educational opportunities for residents, schools and colleges.

2.64.5 Community food growing can increase biodiversity, turn barren spaces into green productive areas and provide opportunities to regenerate derelict or underused urban spaces into high quality, safe, social public spaces.

2.64.6 Community food growing sites can be made more accessible in different ways by ensuring toilet facilities, seating, storage provision and shelter from the elements are provided.

2.65 Community, sport and leisure facilities

2.65.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (2024) promotes healthy inclusive communities where residents have opportunities to meet through safe and accessible environments. Community facilities and services include public halls, schools, local shops, post offices, public houses, places of worship, libraries, museums, community centres, theatres, arts centres, crèches, day centres and doctor's surgeries. (see further information below in relation to doctors surgeries). They make a vital contribution to the social and economic life of the community, particularly in rural areas, and are especially important for elderly and disabled people and for those who do not have easy access to private or public transport.

2.65.2 The council therefore generally aims to resist proposals that would result in the erosion of the valuable community facilities and services, unless it can be clearly demonstrated that there is no long-term requirement for their retention. In the case of a proposal affecting a commercial venture which operates as a community facility, it is important that the existing use is no longer commercially viable and to prove that a genuine attempt has been made to market the enterprise as a going concern.

2.65.3 Doctors' surgeries are an important community facility, however for the purposes of the Local plan for Buckinghamshire they are covered by the infrastructure policy. This is because doctor's surgeries are unique in that the surgeries are run by independent General Practitioners (GP's) but funded by the NHS. The provision of a new doctor's surgery therefore needs to meet the NHS criteria and have a set of GP's willing to run the facility. As such provision of a new doctor's surgery is controlled by factors outside normal planning powers and will involve negotiation with the infrastructure provider the NHS.

2.65.4 Similarly, new development, depending on its scale, creates an additional need for community facilities and community infrastructure. This may be new provision or enhancement/maintenance of existing provision. The type of facilities and infrastructure needed depends on existing infrastructure facilities in the locality, and the type of development proposed.

2.65.5 An asset of community value (ACV) is land or property of importance to a local community which is subject to additional protection from development under the Localism Act 2011. Voluntary and community organisations can nominate an asset to be included on their local authority's register of assets of community value. ACV status is a material consideration when dealing with planning applications that affect an asset.

2.66 Sport, Leisure and Recreation

2.66.1 Participation in sport and recreation activities has many physical and health benefits while promoting community cohesion. Facilities that allow for this participation help deliver NHS initiatives around improving health and tackling obesity. Buckinghamshire has a wide range of sports and recreation facilities which provide for a variety of recreational sporting needs. There are important leisure centres in in the main towns Aqua Vale Swimming & Fitness Centre -Aylesbury, The Beacon Sports Centre - Beaconsfield, Chalfont Leisure Centre – Chalfont St Peter, Chesham Leisure Centre, - Chesham, Chilterns Lifestyle Centre –Amersham, Court Garden Leisure Complex – Marlow, Evreham Sports Centre – Iver, Little Marlow Athletics Track –Little Marlow, Risborough Springs Swim and Fitness Centre – Princes Risborough, Swan Pool & Leisure Centre – Buckingham, Wycombe Leisure Centre – High Wycombe, Wycombe Rye Lido Outdoor Swimming Pool – High Wycombe.

2.66.2 Stoke Mandeville receives global recognition as the birthplace of the Paralympic Games. Within Buckinghamshire there is also Silverstone racing circuit which has established itself as a premier motor sport venue.

2.66.3 The Sport, Leisure and Recreation policy applies to all types of sports and associated built facilities required for their operation or facilities of a more community nature where sports can take place within. This includes sports halls, swimming pools, community centres and village halls, artificial grass pitches (such as for football), grass playing pitches (such as for cricket), climbing walls, stadia and facilities for outdoor and indoor tennis, outdoor and indoor bowls, athletics, golf, health and fitness, squash and climbing walls.

2.66.4 Accessible natural green space does not need to be planned separately and can co-exist within a properly master planned approach for open space on a development site. However, sports and leisure facilities provided must be treated separately to accessible natural green space so these areas can function to ensure financial sustainability. Sports facilities are usually hired for a fee and may include built facilities such as a pavilion or club house. Access is usually limited, and sports facilities may be co-located or shared with a school, college, community hall or sports club or other facility.

2.66.5 A number of bodies are responsible for delivering and managing sport and recreation facilities, including Buckinghamshire Council, town and parish councils, Sport England, developers, and private sports clubs and associations. Effective partnership working is required to maintain and enhance the provision in Buckinghamshire.

2.66.6 A large part of Buckinghamshire has a rural nature, which can mean that access to sport and recreation facilities can be difficult. However current provision across Buckinghamshire is generally sufficient. New housing developments are likely to create additional need for sport and recreation facilities. Buckinghamshire Indoor Leisure Facilities Strategy identifies the existing provision of indoor sports and recreation facilities and identifies deficiencies and opportunities for future provision.

2.66.7 The council is working on a Buckinghamshire Playing Pitch Strategy and other sports facilities studies. The work will look closely at the users of facilities and the existing facilities and set out whether the existing facilities are adequate or not, need replacing, or can be expanded. The Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) will ensure a strategic approach to playing pitch provision. The PPS will act as a tool for Buckinghamshire Council and partner organisations to guide resource allocation and to set priorities for pitch sports in the future. The PPS will provide robust evidence for capital funding. As well as proving the need for developer contributions towards pitches and facilities, the PPS provides evidence of need for a range of capital grants. Current funding examples include the Sport England Funding Programmes, Heritage Lottery Fund (for park improvements), the Football Foundation and the Big Lottery.

2.66.8 The PPS is being produced in consultation with Sport England, National Governing Bodies of Sport, Neighbouring Local Authorities, Leisure Operators and Developers, Outdoor Sports Leagues, Major Sports Clubs, LEAP and Parish and Town Councils and will follow Sport England's Playing Pitch Strategy Guidance.

2.66.9 Long term stewardship of sports and recreation facilities is important to ensure facilities provided from development are maintained to high standards.