Planning Healthy Places: A guide for local authorities in Wales for embedding health in planning policy

This Public Health Wales guide supports local authorities in Wales to design, plan and create places that enable people to live healthier, happier lives. It outlines how health can be embedded in Welsh Local Development Plan process to set out where and how new housing, employment, facilities, transport links, green space and community services will be located. 

The guide aims to help planning and health professionals work more closely together to ensure these health considerations are placed at the heart of future development across Wales. It provides practical advice for planners, public health teams, and partners on: 

• Using local health data and community needs to inform planning policies 

• Incorporating health and wellbeing priorities into Local Development Plans 

• Applying Health Impact Assessments when drafting or reviewing policies 

• Designing communities that support active travel, access to nature, social connection and healthy food 

• Reducing inequalities by ensuring all communities benefit from healthy, well-designed environments. 

The guide responds to a growing recognition across Wales that planning policy plays a key role in improving population health and reducing health inequalities, and that healthier environments can prevent illness and reduce pressure on health and care services in the long term.