to view - Public Health Observatories

LDF Core Strategy HIA - Screening and Scoping5 . Scoping the Core Strategy specific “Policies”CSP 8 The location of growthCriteria1. Will the policies impact onhealth of the variouscommunities?Potential Health BenefitsThe location of development if not planned in a sustainablemanner with an understanding of local needs can:-Impact on local health care.Encourage or create greater health inequalities andLead to a sedentary lifestyle.For example the location of new LIFT centres (or Polyclinics)and GP surgeries - many of which carry out a much widerrange of services, traditionally requiring patients to attendhospitals - can only attract sufficient patient numbers tooperate efficiently when developed in accessible locations.With Primary Care accounting for over 90% of all patientcontact totalling over 300 million contacts per year (KingsFund 2008) a major opportunity exists to encouragesustainable travel choices and as a result improve health, bylocating developments in accessible locations. This in turnwill minimise car journeys resulting in less traffic pollution,whilst also encouraging more walking and cycling across thearea.A further issue is the need to make better use of existing roadnetwork to encourage economic growth. The work beingcarried out by regional partners, the Highways Agency, busand coach operators to make the best use of the existing trunkroad and motorway network outside the local authoritymanaged network must also include the recognition andmitigation of any impact on the health of local communities.Finally the Council will work closely with the BehaviouralChange department of the Highways Agency in developingvarious initiatives such as the area wide travel plans, beingdeveloped in the area close to Junction 36 of the M1.AssessmentAMBER2. Do the policies contributeto the ambitions of thecommunity strategy?This policy aims to provide services in the most suitablelocation enhancing the long term sustainability of the Boroughand encourage less reliance on the car.In terms of capitalising on its central location of Barnsley,within the ‘golden triangle’ of Manchester, Leeds and SheffieldThis policy can contribute to the introduction of qualitytransport links, enabling Barnsley to realise its economicpotential a key driver within the SCS.GREEN16