Hertfordshire Healthy and Safe Places Framework: lunch and learn overview
Our recent lunch and learn session on healthy placemaking brought together an impressive panel to discuss Hertfordshire’s groundbreaking approach to embedding health considerations into planning policy. There was excellent audience engagement, with thoughtful questions throughout the discussion.
Setting the scene
Councillor Richard Henry, Leader of Stevenage Borough Council and HIDB chair, opened the session by outlining the significant pressures facing Hertfordshire. The county is grappling with population growth alongside increased demand for healthcare, housing and transport infrastructure. Rising health inequalities present a particular challenge, with preventable illnesses often linked to poor housing conditions and environmental risks disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable communities.
The timing of this work aligns perfectly with the new National Planning Policy Framework, which places health and wellbeing at its core. With Hertfordshire undergoing local government reorganisation, there’s a unique opportunity to develop a county-wide, evidence-based approach to integrating health into planning from the ground up.
The framework: a UK first
Hertfordshire’s Healthy and Safe Places Framework represents the first initiative of its kind in the UK. Developed collaboratively with local planning authorities, public health teams, the NHS, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the voluntary sector, it provides a comprehensive toolkit for healthier development.
At its heart are seven healthy placemaking principles that address everything from economic vitality to natural environment access and community connectivity. These principles are underpinned by cross-cutting themes of inclusivity, equity and sustainability. The framework is designed to work at both strategic and local scales, informing major strategic development plans as well as individual site assessments.
Why this matters
Sarah Perman, the Director of Public Health at Hertfordshire County Council, provided crucial context about Hertfordshire’s health landscape. The county faces a rapidly ageing population alongside pockets of significant deprivation where residents are more likely to experience premature death and live with disabilities. Crucially, she emphasised that 60% of health outcomes are determined by environmental and socioeconomic conditions rather than healthcare interventions alone.
This means that decisions about how we plan and build our communities have profound implications for population health. Issues like obesity are influenced by planning and licensing decisions that determine access to healthy food options. Housing quality directly impacts health outcomes, with damp, mould and inadequate design for disabled residents creating ongoing health challenges.
The framework represents an opportunity to flip this dynamic. With ambitious regeneration and housing growth planned across Hertfordshire, there’s potential to use planning policies proactively to create communities that actively promote health rather than undermine it.
Evidence-based approach
One of the framework’s most innovative features is its use of statistical machine learning to identify the social determinants of health specific to Hertfordshire. This analysis revealed a striking finding: household overcrowding emerged as the single biggest determinant affecting life expectancy across the county.
This evidence base allows the framework to identify “health action areas” based on life expectancy data and performance against key determinants. Rather than applying blanket policies, this approach enables targeted interventions where they’re most needed, backed by robust local data.
Making it work in practice
Shaun Andrews, Director at Prior + Partners, explained how the framework translates into practical application. It’s structured to provide universal best practices applicable across all developments, alongside guidance for addressing local health issues specific to different areas. The evidence base helps justify health-focused policy decisions that might otherwise be challenged during the planning process.
The framework also comes with an interactive website that Hannah Regis, Hertfordshire County Council, demonstrated during the session. The site provides downloadable resources, interactive maps and a dashboard that allows users to query data relevant to their specific areas of interest. This transparency and accessibility are crucial for ensuring the framework can be used effectively by planners, developers and community stakeholders.
Looking ahead
The session concluded with lively discussion from HIDB members. The framework’s long-term outlook means it will remain relevant regardless of how local government reorganisation unfolds. By establishing health as a fundamental consideration in planning decisions now, Hertfordshire is positioning itself to create healthier, more equitable communities for decades to come.
This collaborative, evidence-driven approach offers a model that other regions could learn from. It demonstrates what’s possible when public health expertise, planning authority and community engagement come together with a shared commitment to improving health outcomes through the built environment.