Context
Eden Planning, a SME consultancy specialising in urban development, was commissioned by Place Capital Group to deliver a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) for a 122-dwelling development at Ovenden Green, Halifax.
The project aimed to fulfil Calderdale's Local Plan requirement for HIAs on developments of 30 or more homes. The assessment ensured the proposal aligned with community well-being objectives while expediting the planning process.
Eden Planning’s Use of Place Analytics
To streamline and support the assessment process, Eden Planning utilised PlaceChangers' Place Analytics Tool, an advanced data tool specifically for health-related outcomes. Key elements of the tool that Eden Planning incorporated included:
- Comprehensive Data Aggregation: Integrated housing, healthcare, and community asset data into a single, accessible framework for streamlined reporting.
- Benchmarking Housing Profiles: Used the platform’s benchmarking capabilities to compare the proposed housing mix against local stock, demonstrating how the development addressed gaps such as smaller homes and accessible designs.
- Walkability and Accessibility Analysis: Mapped proximity to public transport, green spaces, and amenities to highlight the development’s sustainable and inclusive features.
Outputs were used to support a health impact assessment using the HUDU evaluation framework (learn more about HUDU in our article here), supporting thematic assessments across housing diversity, physical activity, diet, and social cohesion. By leveraging PlaceChangers, Eden Planning enriched their analysis and produced a high-quality, data-driven report that was visually engaging and easily comprehensible for all stakeholders.
Results
All required data was available in one place. The data-rich report facilitated a smooth approval process, with no substantial revisions requested by the council.
This case study showcases Eden Planning’s effective use of PlaceChangers to deliver impactful and efficient Health Impact Assessments, ensuring client objectives and regulatory compliance were met with ease.
Find out more about Eden Planning' services here.
Rebecca Hilton
Associate Director, Eden Planning
PlaceChangers place analytics tool, provided a streamlined and highly efficient way of collating information for our report. The tool’s ability to contextualise and aggregate housing and health data ensured our HIA was robust and actionable and accepted by the council.