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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
Chapter 8: Environment and
Sustainability
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
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4.1
Environment and Sustainability Chapter
Dave Walker and Julie Hotchkiss
Julie Hotchkiss
Date
8/03/11
18/03/11
18/03/11
24/03/11
28/06/11
Comments
Sent to Dave Walker
Amended by Dave Walker
Formatted by Julie Hotchkiss
Recommendations added
Final editing
Please note that these recommendations come
from the assessment and are not (necessarily)
the policy of any of the contributing agencies.
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
Contents Page
Section
Number
Section Name
Page
Number
8.0
8.1
8.1.1
8.1.2
Introduction
Climate Change
Improving active travel across the social gradient
Improving good quality spaces available across the social
gradient
Improving the food environment in local areas across the
social gradient
Improving energy efficiency of housing across the social
gradient
Evidence
Local Development Framework evidence base
Topic Papers
Key Local Studies
Climate Change and Health evidence base
Analysis
Issues
Recommendations
Spatial Planning
Climate Change
Transport
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8.1.3
8.1.4
8.2
8.2.1
8.2.1
8.2.2
8.2.3
8.3
8.4
8.5
8.5.1
8.5.2
8.5.3
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This document represents a snap-shot – a picture at a single point in time.
Assessing needs is an on-going process, and updates and new sections will be
added over the year, and posted on the web-site Wigan JSNA web pages.
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
Summary of Recommendations
“Environment and Sustainability” key findings and recommendations
extracted from the full JSNA Introduction (37 in total). At the end of this
chapter are the detailed “Environment and Sustainability”
recommendations.
The creation of healthy and sustainable communities should go hand-in-hand with
climate change mitigation. An exhaustive exploration of all the factors influencing
Place was undertaken in the preparation for the new Local Development Framework,
and this serves as a detailed evidence-base which is available to use to inform
decisions about particular policies and commissioning specific projects.
Recommendation 23
Require Health Impact Assessments for all major developments.
Recommendation 24
Promote healthy activity by retaining and improving parks and open spaces, sports
pitches and facilities for community including use of school sports facilities, providing
adequate and accessible play space for children.
Recommendation 25
Promote locally grown food through increased allotments provision.
Recommendation 26
Work in partnerships to develop a transport strategy to cater for all transport needs
across the borough. In the current financial climate, Wigan Council and Greater
Manchester need to maximise funding opportunities and seek match funding
wherever possible, to deliver transport aspirations.
Recommendation 27
Promote behavioural change through “Active Travel”, to encourage more drivers to
leave the car at home and use active modes of travel to increase levels of physical
activity and reduce carbon emissions.
Recommendation 28
Promote a refreshed approach to road safety education, training and publicity,
to support communities to use active travel modes for local journeys.
Recommendation 29
Adopt a new road user hierarchy within Transport Planning:
disabled people as pedestrians, or wheelchair
users able-bodied pedestrians
cyclists
public transport
users motorists
Assess all works to ensure this hierarchy is being used.
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
8.0 Introduction
This introduction is a summary of the section on Policy Objective E - Create and
develop healthy and sustainable places and communities from “Fair Society, Healthy
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Lives - The Marmot Review” – a strategic review of health inequalities in England
post-2010. This sets out the national position on health and the environment and
sustainability.
The health and well-being of individuals is influenced by the communities in
which they live. People‟s health is affected by the nature of their physical
environment; living in poor housing, in a deprived neighbourhood with a lack
of access to green spaces impacts negatively on physical and mental health.
As well as physical places, the communities and social networks to which individuals
belong over their life course also have a significant impact on health and health
inequalities. The extent of people‟s participation in their communities and the added
control over their lives that this brings has the potential to contribute to their
psychosocial well-being and, as a result, to other health outcomes. We live, grow,
learn, work and age in a range of environments, and our lives are affected by
residential communities, neighbourhoods and relational communities and social
structures.
The creation of healthy, sustainable places and communities should go hand in hand
with the mitigation of climate change and have a shared policy agenda. Access to
good quality air, water, food, sporting, recreational and cultural facilities and green
space all contribute to reducing inequalities as well as helping to create sustainable
communities. Policies concerning sustainable places and communities and designed
to mitigate climate change prioritise the environment, and should, and sometimes
do, include strategies to improve diet, physical activity, and mental health. Aligning
the sustainability and climate change agendas can help to frame the way healthy
communities and places are created and developed and create conditions that
enable everyone to flourish equally, within the limits of finite ecological resources.
Aligning these two agendas requires a conscious effort and will not happen
automatically. For example, widening access to green spaces has to occur in all
communities, across the social gradient and not just where it might be „easy‟.
Measures intended to respond to climate change must not widen health inequalities.
8.1 Climate change
Climate change is a fundamental threat to health and reducing emissions to
mitigate climate change will also make people healthier. By 2020 the UK will have
to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions if the country is to succeed in playing
its part in tackling climate change. Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the
Government has set a legally binding target to reduce UK emissions by at least 80
per cent by 2050, and at least 34 per cent by 2020 (against 1990 levels).
The Act also establishes a system of five-year „carbon budgets‟, limits on UK
emissions that set the trajectory towards these medium and long-term targets. It is
important that Government leads by example in tackling climate change, by
reducing its own emissions.
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http://www.marmotreview.org/AssetLibrary/pdfs/Reports/FairSocietyHealthyLivesExecSummary.pdf
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
8.1.1 Improving active travel across the social gradient
Transport accounts for approximately 29 per cent of the UK‟s carbon dioxide
emissions and significantly contributes to some of today‟s greatest challenges to
public health in England: the burden of road traffic injuries, physical inactivity,
the adverse effect of traffic on social cohesiveness and the impact of outdoor air
and noise pollution. The relationship between transport and health is complex
and socioeconomically patterned. Transport also enables access to work,
education, social networks and services that can improve people‟s opportunities.
The EU also regards transport as central to improving health and its action on
sustainable urban transport seeks to create healthy environments and reduce noncommunicable diseases such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and to
prevent injuries from occurring. Active transport can be an important contributor to
overall levels of physical and mental health but it is not an easy solution to
implement.
Improving active travel across the social gradient includes providing incentives to
increase levels of active travel as well as initiatives to improve safety to encourage
active travel. Interventions may include increasing investments to encourage more
walking and cycling, reducing car speed, improving quality of and access to walking
and cycling routes and improving public transport. Interventions need to both
improve road safety and improve parental and peer support.
8.1.2 Improving good quality spaces available across the social gradient
Green space and green infrastructure improve mental and physical health and have
been shown to reduce health inequalities. Green infrastructure networks reduce
urban temperatures and improve drainage, reducing the risks to health associated
with heat waves and flooding. Well designed and maintained green spaces can
encourage social interaction, exercise, play, and contact with nature. Well designed,
car free and pleasant streets encourage feelings of well-being, chance interactions
and active travel; good quality and good access to public spaces contributes to
pride in the community, integration and social cohesion.
Over 95 per cent of people believe it is very or fairly important to have green spaces
near to where they live and this value placed on green space is consistent across
the social gradient.
8.1.3 Improving the food environment in local areas across the social gradient
Dietary change can also play a key role not only in mitigating climate change and
adaptation strategies, but also in promoting health by reducing the consumption
of saturated fat from meat and dairy sources.
8.1.4 Improving energy efficiency of housing across the social gradient
The existing housing stock emits 13 per cent of our carbon dioxide and as such, there is
a compelling case for improving the environmental standards of housing across all
sectors. Poor housing conditions and design have substantial impacts on health
inequalities. The ageing housing stock requires consistent reinvestment, particularly to
reduce the carbon emissions from older homes. A household is in fuel poverty if it needs
to spend more than 10 per cent of its income on fuel to sustain satisfactory heating. In
2006, 11.5 per cent of households in England were fuel poor,
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
either spending more than this 10 per cent or under-consuming energy to save
money; over half of these households were single persons. The risk of fuel
poverty rises sharply as household income.
A healthy physical environment is a prerequisite for mental capital, as it sets the
background in which the home, social environment, work environment and leisure
and cultural activities can take place. A healthy environment is a sustainable one –
one which meets the needs of the current generation without sacrificing the needs
of future generations. Human activity over thousands of years has influenced the
environment of Wigan today for good and bad. We need to ensure that we leave our
children’s children as positive a legacy as possible.
8.2 Evidence
8.2.1 Local Development Framework Evidence Base – Topic Papers
This is a link to a number of topic papers which provide a summary of the evidence
base required for the Local Development Framework.
www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Strategies-Plans-and-Policies/Planning/Localplan/Background/LocalDevelopmentScheme.aspx
Each topic paper has a different subject area and establishes a baseline position and
identifies the key issues that need to be addressed. They have been put together
using evidence from policy documents, guidance, studies etc. at national, regional
and local levels and have been consulted on extensively. The list of topic papers is
below:Health and recreation
Community safety and neighbourhood quality
Community development and involvement
Education and learning
Economy and employment
Housing
Retail and centres
Accessibility (covers transport issues)
Built environment and landscape
Wildlife habitats and species
Energy
Waste
Natural resources and pollution
8.2.2 Key Local Studies
www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Strategies-Plans-and-Policies/Planning/Localplan/Background/KeyLocalStudies.aspx
This is a link to the key studies that we have commissioned or are commissioning to
help provide a robust and credible evidence base to the Local Development
Framework.
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
8.2.3 Climate Change and Health Evidence Base
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
th
Climate Change 2007 – 4 Assessment Report
Includes:
Physical Science Basis
Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability ( Chapter 8 is specifically on
human health)
Mitigation of Climate Change
Synthesis Report (summary of all documentation)
Royal Society
Climate Change: A Summary of the Science (2010)
North West
North West Climate Change Action Plan (note that this will end with the NWDA)
Wigan Council
Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan – consultation, includes risk assessment
for borough.
Climate Change Risk Assessment – adaptation resource pack (Wigan =
capital assets)
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
8.3 Analysis
Exhaustive exploration of the Evidence Base and detailed in-depth analysis of some
key areas have been undertaken as part of the Local Development Framework (LDF)
process. This has included reviewing existing evidence of need by reviewing plans,
programmes, strategies, policies and legislation at the international, national,
regional, sub regional (for example Greater Manchester), local and neighbourhood
levels, commissioning localised studies, survey and monitoring information.
A sustainability appraisal has also been completed in order to appraise the social,
environmental and economic effects of strategies and policies in all LDF documents
from the outset of the preparation process.
This is a link to the Sustainability Appraisal for the LDF Core Strategy:
The landscape of parks, canals, wetlands and woodland that form Greenheart
provide many opportunities for recreation and active living. Most open space within
Greenheart is publicly owned and accessible for the vast majority of the borough's
population. Many of the communities surrounding Greenheart sites suffer from poor
health, promoting Greenheart and other open spaces will provide opportunity for
activities that will help improve both physical and mental wellbeing. The
development and improvement of strategic off road routes within and around
Greenheart; such as canal towpaths and former railway lines, together with the
extensive Rights of Way network, further enhances opportunities for activities such
as walking and cycling.
Our Natural Health Service: The role of the natural environment in maintaining
healthy lives (Natural England. 2009)
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/natural-england
8.4 Issues
Key local issues have been identified in work on developing:

The Wigan Local Development Framework Core Strategy – This is a link to the
proposed Core strategy
http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Strategies-Plans-and-Policies/Planning/Localplan/Background/Key-Local-Studies/CoreStrategySustainabilityAppraisal.aspx

The Climate Change Strategy for Wigan Borough - This is a link to the proposed
Strategy and Action Plan
http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Strategies-Plans-and-Policies/Climate-change-andsustainability.aspx

The Wigan Transport Strategy - This is a link to the transport issues paper
- Connecting People to Opportunities
http://www.wigan.gov.uk/Council/Strategies-Plans-and-Policies/Transportstrategy.aspx
Sustainability can build mental capital
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability






Makes the best use of existing resources and infrastructure, i.e. it makes
our resources go further, minimising the effects of the economic downturn
It prevents contributing further to climate change, and builds our resilience
to help us to adapt to the inevitable changes
It reduces the need to travel, especially commuting by car, thereby
reducing stress
It encourages active modes of transport (e.g. walking and cycling), so good
for building physical health
Supports local people to use their local (outdoor) space, thereby making
residents, especially vulnerable people, the disabled and young children
feel secure
By supporting the local economy (shopping local, buying locally grown
or produced food products, reducing need for imported goods) we
create or protect local employment
Poor environmental quality produces negative effects on mental capital in
various ways
 Our current patterns of energy and resource use are unsustainable. We
are contributing significantly towards climate change
 Relatively poor transport infrastructure leads to over-reliance on the private
car, traffic congestion and dependence on the car
 Makes older people less likely to be out and about in their
local neighbourhoods, therefore risking isolation
 Children are less likely to be allowed out to play, thereby depriving them of
the stimulation needed for healthy development
8.5 Recommendations
The two main relevant policies in the Core Strategy are CP 1 - Health and well-being
and CP 2 - Open space, sport and recreation but aspects of others will apply.
9.5.1 Spatial Planning
1. Require Health Impact Assessments for all major developments
2. Promote healthy activity by
o
retaining and improving parks and open spaces
o
retaining, improving and increasing provision of sports pitches
and facilities
o
community use of school sports facilities
o
providing adequate and accessible play space for children
3. Promote locally grown food through increased allotments provision
8.5.2 Climate Change
1. All agencies to assess and respond to the health impacts of climate
change through adaptation and mitigation measures.
2. Healthcare providers to advance their Environmental Management Systems
to better assess options for reducing energy and other resource use.
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Wigan Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2011 Environment and Sustainability
3. Make best use of existing buildings when considering needs to relocate health and
other public services (as opposed to new build).
8.5.3 Transport
1. In the current financial climate, Wigan Council and Greater Manchester to
maximise funding opportunities and seek match funding wherever possible, to deliver
transport aspirations.
2. Promote behavioural change through “Active Travel”, to encourage more drivers
to leave the car at home and use active modes of travel to increase levels of physical
activity and reduce carbon emissions
3. Promote a targeted approach to road safety education, training and publicity,
by supporting communities to use active travel modes for local journeys.
4. Work in partnerships to develop a transport strategy to cater for all transport needs
across the borough.
5. Adopt a new road user hierarchy within Transport Planning:
1. disabled people as pedestrians, or wheelchair users
2. able-bodied pedestrians
3. cyclists
4. public transport users
5. motorists
Assess all works to ensure this hierarchy is being used.
6. Consider adopting a 20 mph speed limit on all residential streets, or targeted
streets with heavy child or pedestrian traffic
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