Implementing Health Impact Assessment policy on infrastructure development in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets

ABSTRACT

This case study articulates findings from a policy analysis that explored key challenges to the development and adoption of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Policy within the infrastructure development setting in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets sought to test whether the mechanisms provided by the planning system were achievable and measurable or whether policy changes were needed to make the implementation of HIA Policy more effective. In 2020, the HIA Policy was adopted in the Tower Hamlets Local Plan to systematically assess the health impact of new infrastructure development. This case study details how in 2018, a policy analysis was undertaken, building on an international literature review, considering evidence from health and development databases and relevant academic texts. Primary research was undertaken, incorporating a knowledge attitude and practice survey underpinned by grounded theory. Despite HIAs being widely encouraged within infrastructure development, there was limited published peer-reviewed literature demonstrating their effectiveness in this setting; however, insights emerged around capacity building, the development process, and community participation. The findings of the analysis initiated a capacity building programme, known as the ‘HIA Implementation Programme’, with recommendations proposed and subsequently accepted by decision makers across Public Health and Planning teams.

KEYWORDS:

• Health Impact Assessment
• Spatial Planning and Health
• wider determinants of health

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew Quin

Matthew Quin has worked in National, Regional and Local Government in the UK for over 15 years. He has a passion for health improvement with the intention to reduce health inequalities and protect the most vulnerable from harm. He has worked for Tower Hamlets Council Public Health team for 5 years, leading their Healthy Places Programme. He is committed to the spatial planning and health agenda and raising awareness of the harms of air pollution to health. Matthew has held senior manager positions in regeneration in the Croydon Council and served as a Police Officer in the Metropolitan Police

Laurence Carmichael

Laurence Carmichael, LLB, LLM, PhD taught and researched EU politics and policies before developing expertise in healthy planning at UWE, Bristol. As the Head of UWE’s WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments, Laurence has collaborated with policy-makers, stakeholders and professional organisations across Europe. Over 2019-2022, she was the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ Health Impact Assessment Officer, bringing together Public Health and Planning officers to implement a new local innovative healthy planning policy.

Caroline Hopper

Caroline Hopper 'Followed a career in social and public policy in universities, local government and the voluntary sector; she joined the NHS and was then an Executive Director in health authorities in Surrey and Sussex for over 12 years. She held a wide range of general management roles on NHS Boards including Director of: commissioning; strategic and service development; and public engagement. Caroline has taught at the Universities of Brighton and Sussex for over 15 years. She currently chairs the Brighton and Sussex Medical School post graduate Dissertation Panel and supervises students from across the professional development and clinical programmes.