Aspect 4 - Natural and sustainable environment

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Overview

There is a very significant and strong body of evidence linking contact and exposure to the natural environment with improved health and wellbeing. Planning for natural and sustainable environments is crucial for promoting health and wellbeing by ensuring access to green and blue spaces, clean air and water, climate change adaptation and opportunities for physical activity. Maximising the creation and access to these natural environments can positively impact both physical and mental wellbeing, reduce health inequalities, and contribute to a more sustainable future.  

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Determinant 4a - Environmental hazards: air, noise, light and odour pollution

Requirements

Environmental hazards such as air, noise, light and odour pollution negatively impact on health and wellbeing, local amenity and quality of life. They can cause a range of adverse effects including respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, sleep disturbance and stress. Developments can lead to an increase in emissions of and exposure to pollutants both during construction and through operation of completed schemes. Necessary avoidance and mitigation measures are required to ensure environmental hazards and human exposure are minimised.

Issues, impacts and links to health and wellbeing effects

Below is an outline as to the importance of the determinant, its connection to health and wellbeing outcomes, and how it affects different population groups, particularly the most vulnerable.

General

Pollution generators and impacts: Pollution arising from construction, traffic and commercial activities can lead to land contamination, deterioration in air quality, noise nuisance, dust, vibration and unpleasant odours. These environmental factors can contribute to a decline in overall health and quality of life, especially in urban areas.

Air Quality

  • Greatest environmental risk: Air pollution is currently the greatest environmental risk to public health in the UK. Its effects are far-reaching and affect multiple aspects of physical and mental health. Outdoor air pollution is concentrated in particular geographical areas for example largely in urban areas and close to busy roads. In East Sussex the risk from outdoor air pollution varies from very significant, in urban centres, to negligible in rural areas. (Sussex Air Quality Partnership, 2024)
  • Indoor air pollution: Most exposure to air pollution occurs indoors. Individuals spend a substantial part of their lives indoors therefore the environment of indoor spaces, especially the quality of the air holds great importance.  The design and level of ventilation of buildings have a large impact on people’s exposure. (ESCC, 2024)
  • Key health impacts: Air pollution influences many different aspects of health, including respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, perinatal health as well as emerging evidence of mental health, cognitive function and dementia. (Department of Health and Social Care, 2022)
  • Short and long-term exposure: Strong evidence supports that both short-term and long-term exposure to pollutants increase the risk of illness and death related to respiratory and cardiovascular issues.
  • Vulnerable populations groups:
    • Children - are more susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollutants due to being shorter in height and therefore exposed to higher concentrations of pollutions.  Exposure can affect lung development, lead to reduced lung function, development and exacerbations of asthma.  (ESCC, 2024)
    • Older people - are susceptible to the respiratory effects of air pollution, with studies showing reduced lung function, development of respiratory illness such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, respiratory tract infections and increased hospital admissions. (ESCC, 2024)

Noise

  • Key health impacts: Noise exposure can cause annoyance and sleep disturbance impacting on quality of life. It can give rise to adverse health effects such cardiovascular problems due to increased levels of stress and high blood pressure, and psychological effects including depression and anxiety.  (DEFRA, 2010), (WHO, 2018)

The Opportunities - What the Planning System Can Do

Positive actions, principles and measures that should be considered and where feasible implemented to address adverse effects and enhance health and wellbeing benefits.

General

  • Land use: Allocate and use land in ways that minimise emissions and reduce public exposure to air, noise, light and odour pollution.
  • Construction management: Require and use construction management plans to reduce pollution levels during construction. This should include hours of operation, movement of construction traffic and measures to reduce dust, noise, light and odour pollution.
  • Operational mitigation: For industrial and commercial developments ensure long term strategies to manage emissions and pollution levels during operation are in place.
  • Buffer Zones: Create appropriate and evidenced buffer zones, areas of land that provide a protective separation and safe distance between pollution sources such as roads and industrial/commercial uses and sensitive land uses such as housing, education, health facilities, public green, blue and community spaces.

Air Quality

  • Sustainable transport alternatives: Maximise provision, improvements and links to public transport networks and to walking, wheeling and cycling routes. Encouraging use of sustainable means of transport and reducing car use, lowering traffic congestion, carbon emissions and exposure to pollutants.
  • Travel planning: Implement travel plans for both the construction phase and for the future community including incentives for public transport and cycling to lead to improved local environmental conditions, by reducing traffic and potential congestion.
  • Indoor air quality: Design buildings with adequate ventilation to reduce exposure to indoor air pollutants and balancing indoor air quality with keeping buildings warm in the winter and cool in the summer. 

Noise

  • Land use: Separate conflicting land uses to avoid placing noise generating developments such as industrial and nightlife venues near to residential properties and community and recreational spaces.
  • Building design and orientation: Orient buildings to reduce noise impact on residents and incorporate sound insulation and landscape buffers where needed.
  • Control of development noise: Ensure that noise generated from new developments does not negatively impact surrounding areas, particularly during sensitive times such as night hours.

Local data and evidence

Data available on Healthy Places Data Profile:  East Sussex Healthy Places Data Profile

  • Air pollution: Fraction of mortality attributable to particulate air pollution Persons - 30+ yrs
  • Noise: The percentage of the population exposed to road, rail and air transport noise of 55 dB(A) or more during the night-time, the percentage of the population exposed to road, rail and air transport noise of 65dB(A) or more, during the daytime, the rate of complaints about noise 
  • Preventable diseases: Under 75 mortality rate from causes considered preventable (includes cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and liver disease)

Data available on external websites: AQMAs interactive map | defra.gov – Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs

Evidence: County-wide plans, strategies and reports.

National planning policy context

The National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) includes the following paragraphs:  

  • Paragraph 198 – ‘Planning policies and decisions should also ensure that new development is appropriate for its location taking into account the likely effects (including cumulative effects) of pollution on health, living conditions and the natural environment, as well as the potential sensitivity of the site or the wider area to impacts that could arise from the development. In doing so they should:
  • a) mitigate and reduce to a minimum potential adverse impacts resulting from noise from new development – and avoid noise giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and the quality of life;
  • b) identify and protect tranquil areas which have remained relatively undisturbed by noise and are prized for their recreational and amenity value for this reason; and
  • c) limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation.’
  • Paragraph 199 – ‘Planning policies and decisions should sustain and contribute towards compliance with relevant limit values or national objectives for pollutants, taking into account the presence of Air Quality Management Areas and Clean Air Zones, and the cumulative impacts from individual sites in local areas. Opportunities to improve air quality or mitigate impacts should be identified, such as through traffic and travel management, and green infrastructure provision and enhancement. So far as possible these opportunities should be considered at the plan-making stage, to ensure a strategic approach and limit the need for issues to be reconsidered when determining individual applications. Planning decisions should ensure that any new development in Air Quality Management Areas and Clean Air Zones is consistent with the local air quality action plan.’

Other key guidance and standards

Guidance raises the issues and impacts that pollutants can have on health and wellbeing. It provides examples and guidance on how emissions and exposure can be minimised.

Examples, best practice and or case studies

Links with other determinants

There are overlaps and synergies between ‘Aspects’ and ‘Determinants’. This section provides a list of determinants which are interconnected and cross cutting with this determinant. 

  • 1a. Quality Provision of Local Services and Facilities – Measures to reduce air and noise pollution, and consideration of land use options which avoid conflicts with pollution generating uses, supports the provision of quality local services.
  • 1b. Quality Provision of Local Employment Sites - Measures to reduce pollution within workspaces, and consideration of land use options which avoid conflicts with sensitive land uses, supports the provision of quality local employment sites.
  • 3a. Housing Quality – Measures to reduce both indoor and outdoor air and noise pollution contribute to creating quality housing.
  • 5c. Active Travel – Reducing pollution, improving environmental quality and considering land use options which avoid conflicts with pollution generating uses will encourage more active travel, this in turn will reduce car use further improving air and noise quality.
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Determinant 4b - Access and Provision of Quality Public Green and Blue Spaces

Requirements

Green and blue spaces such as parks, woodlands, fields, the sea, lakes and rivers and as well as natural elements including green walls, roofs and vegetation are increasingly being recognised and required as important assets for supporting health and wellbeing. Evidence shows that living in greener environments promotes and protects good health, aids in illness recovery and helps manage poor health. Good quality accessible green and blue spaces provide opportunities for recreation, relaxation and connection with nature contributing to overall physical health and mental wellbeing.

Issues, impacts and links to health and wellbeing effects

Below is an outline as to the importance of the determinant, its connection to health and wellbeing outcomes, and how it affects different population groups, particularly the most vulnerable.

  • Four broad ways green and blue spaces provide benefits (PHE, 2020):
    • Promoting healthy behaviours – encouraging sport, physical activity and active travel (walking and cycling).
    • Improving social contacts - giving people a sense of familiarity, belonging and connection with nature.
    • Supporting the development of skills and capabilities – improving concentration and cognitive function.
    • Mediating potential harm – reducing exposure to air pollution and urban heat.
  • Physical health impacts: Living in greener environments can promote and protect good physical health, aid in recovery from illness and support managing chronic or poor health.
  • Mental health outcomes: Mental health benefits include reducing levels of depression, anxiety and fatigue, lowering feelings of stress and anger, reducing loneliness, improving confidence, self-esteem and enhancing quality of life for all ages. (Mental Health Foundation, 2021)
  • Physical activity: Providing secure, attractive, and convenient green and blue spaces encourages more physical activity. Increased physical activity helps reduce risks of: 
    • Heart disease
    • Strokes
    • Other health issues linked to sedentary lifestyles and stress.
  • Impacts on children: Early life physical activity patterns strongly influence adult behaviours. Many children today lack regular exercise contributing to rising levels of overweight and obesity. Access to green and blue spaces provide opportunities for children to be active and undertake both formal and informal play activities. (Natural England, 2024)
  • Quality and use of green spaces: There is a strong link between quality of green and blue spaces and its use for sport, physical activity, socialising, and relaxation.
  • Inequalities in access: Improved access to high quality green and blue spaces, both within urban and rural areas, benefits everyone’s health, with the greatest gains experienced by disadvantaged communities. (PHE, 2020) Limited access to these spaces remains a significant barrier for Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) groups and other vulnerable populations, restricting their opportunities to improve health and wellbeing.
  • Natural elements: Features such as trees and green walls and roofs offer significant environmental and health and wellbeing benefits. Trees provide shade, help regulate temperatures and contribute to improved air quality by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen. Similarly, green walls and roofs offer multiple benefits; insulation for buildings, reducing energy consumption, reducing the urban heat island effect by cooling surrounding areas, and filtering air pollutants. Natural elements also provide aesthetic and psychological benefits, contributing to a sense of wellbeing. (Natural England)
  • Airborne allergens: Green spaces can introduce airborne allergens like pollen that have health implications for those with respiratory conditions. It is therefore important to select vegetation which minimises the pollen load. For example, birch trees are one of the main causes of seasonal allergies. Birch pollen can increase allergic sensitisation with 25% of hay fever sufferers affected by it. (See Airborne allergens and green infrastructure)

The Opportunities - What the Planning System Can Do

Positive actions, principles and measures that should be considered and where feasible implemented to address adverse effects and enhance health and wellbeing benefits.

Access

  • Direct accessible routes: Create direct walking, wheeling and cycling accessible routes that connect people easily to existing and new green and blue spaces.
  • Interlinked green and blue infrastructure: Connect onsite and adjacent green and blue spaces for a coherent network that supports biodiversity and public use. Enhance links through and around sites to connect green and blue spaces seamlessly, including connecting to and improving the existing Public Rights of Way network.
  • Inclusive access in areas of deficiency: Increase access to and develop useable, safe, and well-maintained green and blue spaces in neighbourhoods lacking access. Particularly focusing on deprived areas and access by vulnerable groups.

Quality Provision

  • Creation and improvement: Create and improve green and blue spaces to provide high quality areas which feel safe, are welcoming, accessible for all, and encourage use. 
  • Protection:  Safeguard community green and blue spaces to ensure continued opportunities for physical activity and relaxation.
  • Opportunities for physical activity: Create spaces that encourage active use and connection to nature.
  • Supporting features: Include amenities like seating, lighting, water fountains, and public toilets to support longer and more comfortable visits.
  • Tree cover: Provide appropriate tree cover in new or enhanced green spaces for environmental and wellbeing benefits including providing shade and shelter. 
  • Reduce pollen: Select vegetation and trees which minimise pollen load. Avoid birch trees in public spaces.
  • Natural elements: Incorporate natural elements into designs such as green walls and roofs and planting. 
  • Safety: Ensure spaces are safe for women and girls, addressing concerns around lighting, visibility, and design.(see for more information Safer Parks for Women and Girls Guidance )
  • Integration with other uses: Combine green spaces with other outdoor activities, such as recreation, play, and food growing initiatives.

Local data and evidence

Data available on Healthy Places Data Profile: East Sussex Healthy Places Data Profile

  • Physical activity: Physically active children and young people, percentage of physically active and inactive adults
  • Weight: Prevalence of overweight (including obesity): Reception, Year 6 and Adults
  • Food: Adults meeting the ‘5-a-day’ fruit and vegetable consumption recommendations
  • Mobility: Emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people
  • Preventable diseases: Under 75 mortality rate from causes considered preventable (includes cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and liver disease)
  • Loneliness:  Percentage of adults who feel lonely always, often or some of the time

Data available on external websites:

Evidence: County-wide plans, strategies and reports.

National planning policy context

The National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) includes the following paragraphs:  

  • Paragraph 103 – ‘Access to a network of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.'
  • Paragraph 104 – ‘Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless:
  • a) an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements;
  • or b) the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location;
  • or c) the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use.’
  • Paragraph 105 – ‘Planning policies and decisions should protect and enhance public rights of way and access, including taking opportunities to provide better facilities for users, for example by adding links to existing rights of way networks including National Trails.’
  • Paragraph 136 – ‘Trees make an important contribution to the character and quality of urban environments, and can also help mitigate and adapt to climate change. Planning policies and decisions should ensure that new streets are tree-lined, that opportunities are taken to incorporate trees elsewhere in developments (such as parks and community orchards), that appropriate measures are in place to secure the long-term maintenance of newly-planted trees, and that existing trees are retained wherever possible.
  • Green infrastructure, NPPF definition: ‘A network of multi-functional green and blue spaces and other natural features, urban and rural, which is capable of delivering a wide range of environmental, economic, health and wellbeing benefits for nature, climate, local and wider communities and prosperity.’

Other key guidance and standards

Guidance stresses the benefits of green and blue spaces for health and wellbeing and the importance of improving access and creating multi-functional spaces for people and the environment.

Links with other determinants

There are overlaps and synergies between ‘Aspects’ and ‘Determinants’. This section provides a list of determinants which are interconnected and cross cutting with this determinant. 

  • 1b. Quality Provision of Local Employment Sites – Access to quality green and blue spaces close to employment sites supports quality provision and employee’s health and wellbeing.
  • 1c. Inclusive Design – Fully accessible and quality provision of green and blue spaces includes inclusive design measures which enable all to benefit from nature.
  • 1d. Safety and Security – Quality provision includes measures to provide safe and secure spaces particularly for vulnerable groups such as women and girls.
  • 1e. Social Cohesion and Interaction - Access and quality provision of green and blue spaces provides opportunities for interaction and supports social cohesion.
  • 3b. Food Growing - Quality provision of green spaces provides opportunities for incorporation of food growing.
  • 4c. Outdoor Play and Recreation - Quality provision of green spaces provides opportunities for informal and formal play and recreation.
  • 4d. Climate Change Adaption – Green and blue spaces support climate change adaptation by regulating temperatures, providing shade and managing flood risk.
  • 5. Transport: Local Connectivity, Mobility and Accessibility, Active Travel - Quality green spaces provide opportunities for increasing walking, wheeling and cycling, improving local connectivity and increasing mobility and accessibility.
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Determinant 4c - Outdoor Play and Recreation

Requirements

Outdoor play and recreation offer many benefits for both physical and mental wellbeing. These activities encourage physical activity, reduce stress, improve mood and enhance cognitive development. To maximise these health and wellbeing benefits it is required and important that places provide a variety of outdoor play and recreation opportunities both informal and formal that are accessible and cater for all ages, abilities and genders.

Issues, impacts and links to health and wellbeing effects

Below is an outline as to the importance of the determinant, its connection to health and wellbeing outcomes, and how it affects different population groups, particularly the most vulnerable.

  • Physical activity: Access to formal or informal play spaces and outdoor recreational facilities such as sports pitches, play parks or outdoor gym equipment encourages people to be active regularly. Regular physical activity is essential in preventing long term health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers and dementia. Increased physical activity also helps to maintain a healthy weight and build lifelong healthy habits. (Public Health England, 2020)
  • Mental health benefits: Play and recreational activities reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression by providing opportunities for relaxation and fun. It enhances mood and emotional wellbeing through exposure to natural light and outdoor environments. It encourages creative play and imagination boosting cognitive development. It helps to build a sense of community, belonging and social confidence. (Public Health England, 2020)
  • Child development and wellbeing: Access to places to play is critical for all children and young people, supporting the development of:
    • Physical coordination, motor skills and physical fitness.
    • Social interaction, teamwork and communication skills through group play.
    • Emotional resilience and self-confidence (Play England, 2008)
  • Active lifestyles: Access to playgrounds, recreational and sports facilities is strongly associated with increased walking and active travel, particularly among young people and greater participation in informal and organised physical activities. Increasing and establishing healthy lifestyles. (NICE, 2009)
  • Equity: Having access to safe, inclusive and accessible play and recreational opportunities, especially in deprived communities, helps to reduce health inequalities by providing equal access to physical activity opportunities. Well designed and maintained facilities service as community assets that foster greater social inclusion and wellbeing for the whole community. (Fields in Trust, 2024)

The Opportunities - What the Planning System Can Do

Positive actions, principles and measures that should be considered and where feasible implemented to address adverse effects and enhance health and wellbeing benefits.

  • Design for play and recreation: Provide both formal and informal outdoor play spaces that are appropriate for all age groups.
  • Protection and enhancement: Protect and enhance existing play, recreation, and outdoor sports facilities.
  • Informal play spaces: Integrate small incidental play features throughout developments to encourage spontaneous play. Incorporate landscaping features with the capacity to support informal and imaginative play. Consider opportunities for ‘play along the way’.
  • Inclusivity and accessibility: Ensure play and recreation facilities are accessible and designed to meet the needs of all ages, genders, and abilities. Involve communities particularly children, young people and girls in the design process to ensure spaces meet all needs.
  • Women and girls: Ensure the design of play and recreation spaces considers the needs of women and girls: 
    • Provide seating that allows for social interaction (e.g. girls facing each other)
    • Break down spaces into more smaller areas so that no one group can dominate.
    • Arrange outdoor gyms with equipment in social groups not just in isolated stations.
    • Avoid male weighted gym equipment, provide a balanced range of options. (for more information see Make Space for Girls Resource Library)
  • Supporting infrastructure: Provide essential supporting amenities such as seating, shaded areas, drinking fountains, public toilets, cycle parking, and clear signage.
  • Design for safety and passive surveillance: Position surrounding development to overlook facilities and informal outdoor play spaces, enhancing natural surveillance and encouraging shared community use. Avoid dead-end paths and instead design walking loops that feel safe and welcoming, particularly for women and girls. (for more information see Make Space for Girls Resource Library)
  • Sustainable provision and long-term use: Plan for the ongoing maintenance of play and recreational facilities to ensure they remain safe and usable.

Local data and evidence

Data available on Healthy Places Data Profile: East Sussex Healthy Places Data Profile

  • Weight: Prevalence of overweight (including obesity): Reception, Year 6 and Adults
  • Physical activity: Physically active children and young people, percentage of physically active and inactive adults
  • Mobility: Emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people
  • Loneliness:  Percentage of adults who feel lonely always, often or some of the time
  • Preventable diseases: Under 75 mortality rate from causes considered preventable (includes cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and liver disease)

Data available on external websites: 

Evidence: County-wide plans, strategies and reports.

National planning policy context

The National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) includes the following paragraphs:  

  • Paragraph 103 - Access to a network of high quality open spaces and opportunities for sport and physical activity is important for the health and well-being of communities, and can deliver wider benefits for nature and support efforts to address climate change. Planning policies should be based on robust and up-to-date assessments of the need for open space, sport and recreation facilities (including quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses) and opportunities for new provision. Information gained from the assessments should be used to determine what open space, sport and recreational provision is needed, which plans should then seek to accommodate.
  • 104. Existing open space, sports and recreational buildings and land, including playing fields and formal play spaces, should not be built on unless:
  • a) an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown the open space, buildings or land to be surplus to requirements; or
  • b) the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or
  • c) the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the benefits of which clearly outweigh the loss of the current or former use

Other key guidance and standards

Guidance emphasises the importance of sport, recreation and play for both physical health, mental wellbeing and child development. Recommending a range of spaces and facilities to encourage activities both formal and informal, which are safe and accessible to all.

Examples, best practice and or case studies

Links with other determinants

There are overlaps and synergies between ‘Aspects’ and ‘Determinants’. This section provides a list of determinants which are interconnected and cross cutting with this determinant. 

  • 1c. Inclusive Design – Quality outdoor play and recreation facilities provides varied opportunities for all ages and abilities to enjoy and benefit from physical activity.
  • 1d. Safety and Security - Quality provision includes measures to provide safe and secure facilities particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, women and girls.
  • 1e. Social Cohesion and Interaction - Quality outdoor play and recreation facilities provides opportunities for interaction, increases social cohesion and reduces loneliness.
  • 4b. Access and Provision of Quality Green and Blue Spaces - Outdoor play and recreation facilities provides opportunities for and incorporation of access to green and blue spaces.
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Determinant 4d - Climate Change Adaptation: Flood Risk and Extreme Temperatures

Requirements

Climate change adaptation is becoming increasingly urgent as extreme weather events such as floods and extreme temperatures are becoming more frequent and intense. These changes have direct and indirect impacts on health and wellbeing. Planning is required to play a key part in building climate resilient communities and places which have considered and adapted to manage the effects of climate change.

Issues, impacts and links to health and wellbeing effects

Below is an outline as to the importance of the determinant, its connection to health and wellbeing outcomes, and how it affects different population groups, particularly the most vulnerable. (UK Health Security Agency, 2023)

Extreme temperatures

  • Related illnesses: Extreme hot and cold temperatures increase the risk of potentially fatal illnesses including heat stroke, hypothermia, dehydration, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions.
  • Mortality and hospital admissions: Heatwaves lead to increased mortality and emergency hospital admissions, especially among vulnerable groups such as older people. Excess summer hospital admissions during heatwaves are often greater than those recorded during winter cold spells.
  • Mental health consequences: Sleep disruption, physical discomfort, and persistent exposure to heat can worsen anxiety, depression, and irritability.
  • Wider environmental and health hazards: Heatwaves can contribute to increased pollution levels, exacerbating respiratory problems. Prolonged heat and drought heighten the risk of wildfires, which pose acute health risks through smoke inhalation, especially for vulnerable populations. Additionally, the stress associated with wildfire evacuations can have significant mental health impacts.
  • Vector borne diseases: Rising temperatures increase the risk of invasive mosquito species, such as Aedes albopictus, becoming established, which can lead to the spread of the diseases they transmit.
  • Vulnerability in East Sussex: East Sussex has an older population, making residents disproportionately vulnerable to both extreme heat and cold. The county lies in the warmest part of the UK, making heat-related impacts more likely in the coming years including vector borne diseases. (ESCC, 2024)
  • Built environment: Poor building design, particularly inadequate insulation, can lead to overheating in summer and excessive heat loss in winter. This increases energy consumption and costs contributing to fuel poverty and associated health risks in both seasons.  Public spaces that are not adapted to withstand extreme temperatures become less usability, negatively affecting connectivity, physical activity, social interaction and mental wellbeing. (TCPA, RTPI, 2023)
  • Adaptation benefits: Taking advantage of increases in sunlight, through tree planting and the creation of accessible green and blue spaces, including green walls and roofs can enhance physical and mental wellbeing. These natural interventions help mitigate heat, improve air quality and provide pleasant environments for recreation and relaxation contributing towards physical and mental wellbeing. (TCPA, RTPI, 2023)

Flooding

  • Physical health: Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, heavy rainfall, and flooding. These events can lead to higher mortality rates, particularly among vulnerable groups such as older people. Post-flood housing conditions, especially dampness and mould, adversely affect physical health. 
  • Mental health: Flooding causes significant mental health challenges across all affected populations, as damage to homes and businesses disrupts livelihoods and stability. Many individuals who endure ongoing flood-related damage to their homes experience poor mental health. (Public Health England, 2020)

The Opportunities - What the Planning System Can Do

Positive actions, principles and measures that should be considered and where feasible implemented to address adverse effects and enhance health and wellbeing benefits.

Extreme temperatures

  • Cooling:  Design buildings that can be cooled easily during heat waves through consideration of orientation, shading, internal layout, solar reflection, fenestration, insulation, ventilation and use of features such as green roofs and walls. Design community and public facilities with thermal comfort in mind, including as a cool respite space for the community during heatwaves.
  • Shade: Create and maintain spaces and facilities that accommodate higher temperatures maximising the usability by providing shade for example through street trees, canopies awnings and overhangs.
  • Supporting infrastructure: Provide infrastructure in public spaces such as benches in shaded areas and water fountains to help enable people to use spaces in hot temperatures.
  • Green infrastructure: Maximise green infrastructure provision including trees and green walls and roofs to deliver health, wellbeing and environmental benefits.
  • Wildfires: Include appropriate buffer zones between residential or community uses and areas which may be at risk of wildfires.
  • Vector habitats: Consider how to reduce disease vector habitats. Water storage solutions should minimise habitat creation for disease vectors, such as Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. 

Flooding

  • Location of developments: Locate developments away from flood risk areas.
  • Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems: Incorporate features such as permeable surfaces and Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to manage surface, flood risk and significant changes in rainfall. Use ‘green’ SUDS and natural flood resilience wherever possible such as constructed wetlands, retention ponds, green roofs and swales.
  • Resistant homes and buildings: Incorporate in homes and buildings resilience measures to mitigate the impact of flooding such as flood barriers, raised utilities and water-resistant materials.
  • Resistant green spaces: Create water efficient gardens and green spaces with drought tolerant species. Consider storm, drought and flood resistant planting.

Local data and evidence

Data available on Healthy Places Data Profile: East Sussex Healthy Places Data Profile

  • Winter mortality: Excess Winter Deaths Index
  • Fuel Poverty: Percentage of households in fuel poverty
  • Preventable diseases: Under 75 mortality rate from causes considered preventable (includes cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer and liver disease)
  • Physical activity: Physically active children and young people, percentage of physically active and inactive adults

Evidence: County-wide plans, strategies and reports.

National planning policy context

The National Planning Policy Framework (December 2024) includes the following paragraphs:  

  • Paragraph 161 – ‘The planning system should support the transition to net zero by 2050 and take full account of all climate impacts including overheating, water scarcity, storm and flood risks and coastal change. It should help to: shape places in ways that contribute to radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimise vulnerability and improve resilience; encourage the reuse of existing resources, including the conversion of existing buildings; and support renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure.’
  • Paragraph 162 – ‘Plans should take a proactive approach to mitigating and adapting to climate change, taking into account the long-term implications for flood risk, coastal change, water supply, biodiversity and landscapes, and the risk of overheating and drought from rising temperatures. Policies should support appropriate measures to ensure the future health and resilience of communities and infrastructure to climate change impacts, such as providing space for physical protection measures, or making provision for the possible future relocation of vulnerable development and infrastructure.’
  • Paragraph 163 – ‘The need to mitigate and adapt to climate change should also be considered in preparing and assessing planning applications, taking into account the full range of potential climate change impacts.’
  • Paragraph 164 – ‘New development should be planned for in ways that:
  • a) avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through incorporating green infrastructure and sustainable drainage systems’
  • Paragraph 170 – ‘Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk (whether existing or future). Where development is necessary in such areas, the development should be made safe for its lifetime without increasing flood risk elsewhere.’

Other key guidance and standards

Guidance highlights the impacts climate change has on health both from extreme temperatures and from high rainfalls. It outlines measures required within the built and natural environment to adapt to these extreme conditions.

Examples, best practice and or case studies

Links with other determinants

There are overlaps and synergies between ‘Aspects’ and ‘Determinants’. This section provides a list of determinants which are interconnected and cross cutting with this determinant. 

  • 2a. Quality Housing – Housing designed to adapt to higher temperatures and increased flood risks contributes to the provision of quality housing.
  • 4b. Access and Provision of Quality Green and Blue spaces – Incorporation of natural elements such as trees, green walls and roofs and SUDs to mitigate heat, improve air quality and reduce the effects of flooding provides opportunities for people to engage with and benefit from nature.  
  • 5c. Active Travel – Climate change adaptation measures such as shading and reducing the risk of flooding enables use of active travel routes all year.
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