The health and wellbeing theme recognises the role of the environment in supporting healthier, higher-quality lives. To enable the creation of healthy, inclusive and resilient places across Essex, the Greater Essex Planning and Health Protocol has been developed. 

Building on existing guidance — including the Essex Planning Officers Association (EPOA) Healthy Places Guidance and Health Impact Assessment (HIA) Guidance — the protocol provides a clear framework for embedding health and wellbeing across the planning process, from plan-making to development management. It aligns planning decisions on land use, design and infrastructure with public health priorities to improve physical, mental and social wellbeing. 

Audience 

The protocol is intended for planning and public health professionals and health commissioners across Greater Essex local authorities and the NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB). It is also relevant to anyone seeking to embed health and wellbeing into planning. 

It supports collaborative working between: 

• Essex Planning Officers Association (EPOA) 
• Local Planning Authorities 
• Public Health teams across all council tiers 
• NHS Integrated Care Board 

Purpose and Scope 

The protocol provides a practical, non-statutory framework to strengthen collaboration between planning, public health and health commissioners. Its purpose is to embed health and wellbeing consistently across planning functions. It: 

• Does not introduce new legal duties 
• Strengthens joint working and coordinated delivery 
• Complements local and national policy, including the NPPF requirement to promote health and reduce inequalities 

While it does not carry formal planning weight, it supports interpretation and application of national policy and helps demonstrate how health considerations are integrated into planning decisions. 

Acknowledgements 

The protocol has been informed by extensive engagement with officers across Greater Essex, including a workshop delivered with Ouri Labs and the Quality-of-Life Foundation, alongside steering group input and consultation feedback. Contributors include local authorities, Essex County Council, and NHS ICB estates teams. 

 

Endorsement for the EPOA Planning and Health Protocol includes; 

Thurrock Council - Director of Public Health

“This guidance helps public health teams play a clearer and more consistent role in planning decisions. By setting out when and how public health should be involved, and by being realistic about available resources, the EPOA Planning and Health Protocol helps teams focus their efforts on supporting the creation of healthier places” 

Southend City Council - Director of Public Health  

“The EPOA Planning and Health Protocol provides a clear and practical framework for collaboration between public health and planning. It reinforces the importance of early engagement, shared priorities, and proportionate involvement, ensuring that health and wellbeing are considered from the outset of plan-making and development proposals. This approach supports more effective Health Impact Assessment and helps align resources across the system to achieve shared outcomes.”   

Essex County Council - Director of Public Health  

“Health is shaped by the places we live, work and grow up in. This Protocol formalises how public health and planning can work together strategically to embed health considerations at the earliest possible stage of decision-making. By clarifying roles and enabling early, proportionate engagement, including through Health Impact Assessment, the EPOA Planning and Health Protocol supports a more preventative approach that addresses health inequalities and takes every opportunity to reduce any potentially negative effects on health that our decisions can sometimes create.”  

Estates Strategic Planning Manager and North- East Essex Alliance Care Manager - Suffolk and North East Essex  

“Delivering healthier places requires close collaboration between Integrated Care Boards, public health and planning authorities. The Essex Planning Officers Association Planning and Health Protocol supports early engagement, clear responsibilities and a proportionate approach to health input across the planning process. By aligning public health expertise with estates planning, partners can jointly support prevention, wellbeing and long-term population health outcomes.”   

Chair of Chief Officer’s Essex Planning Officers Association

“The EPOA Planning and Protocol reflects a shared commitment across planning and health to shape places that support long-term health, wellbeing, equity. By agreeing clear roles and responsibilities at the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals, the protocol supports more effective collaboration, proportionate engagement and better outcomes for communities. Through early consideration of health and wellbeing and a coordinated approach to Health Impact Assessment, authorities are strengthening the way planning delivers sustainable, healthy places across Greater Essex.”    

 

Greater Essex Planning and Health Protocol Framework Document 

Status 

The protocol is a live document, subject to ongoing updates and annual review, with the next review scheduled for July 2027.

Contact 

For further information, please contact: 

Healthandplanning@essex.gov.uk