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Councillor Kay Yule Cabinet Member with responsibility for Planning and Coastal Management introduced report ES/1967 which related to Healthy Environments Supplementary Planning Document.
East Suffolk has two Local Plans, the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan and Waveney Local Plan, which contain planning policies to deliver built environments that support the physical, mental and social health and wellbeing of communities through use of planning and design approaches which:
• Encourage and enable people of different ages,
• Levels of ability and incomes to engage more in healthy behaviours
• Lifestyles, and to engage more with their community
• Improve the quality of living environments by providing high levels of Environmental protection and designing for high levels of residential amenity.
The Healthy Environments SPD covers the following topics: green infrastructure, active travel, healthy key buildings (homes, schools and workplaces), healthy centres and community facilities, healthy neighbourhoods (‘lifetime neighbourhoods’), and Health Impact Assessments.
The appendices include a glossary, a list of helpful design prompts included at the end of each topic chapter, a note on the Health Protocol and, a list of the key external guidance documents.
The Healthy Environments Supplementary Planning Document has been developed to support the implementation of the key planning policies and address common issues related to these policy areas. Once adopted the SPD will be a material consideration when determining applications.
The preparation of the SPD had been undertaken through an officer steering group and had involved officers from the following teams: Planning Policy, Development Management, Specialist Services (Design, Ecology and Landscape), The Suffolk and North East Essex ICB, The Norfolk & Waveney ICB, Public Health (Suffolk County Council), Leisure Operations, Environmental Protection, and Communities. The preparation of this SPD had also been overseen by the Local Plan Working Group.
Consultation
An initial consultation to inform the scope and content of the SPD was carried out between 26th September to 7th November 2022. In total 19 individuals and organisations responded to the consultation. The responses received informed the preparation of a draft document. The second consultation was on the Draft Healthy Environments SPD, which ran from 15th November 2023 until 10th January 2024. In total 21 individuals and organisations responded and made 116 comments. Various changes were made to the SPD to address the comments received.
It was noted that the document at Appendix C (The Equality Impact Assessment for the SPD) had been updated, as an incorrect version had previously been published. The correct document is available under ‘Meeting Documents’ on CMIS.
There were no questions from Cabinet Members.
Councillor Gooch stated it was a great document with excellent work. It was important to highlight the issues impacting the most vulnerable community members.
Councillor Yule added that it was important there was a document to look at the physical and mental wellbeing of residents living in such environments.
Councillor Yule thanked the Officers and the Local Plan Working Group for their work.
On the proposition of Councillor Yule Seconded by Councillor Candy it was unanimously
RESOLVED
That Cabinet:
1. Adopted the Healthy Environments Supplementary Planning Document.
2. Authorised the Head of Planning and Coastal Management, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Coastal Management, to make any presentational or typographical amendments to the Healthy Environments Supplementary Planning Document prior to it being published.