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Promoting health equity through land use planning
by IN-SPHERE
Understanding the vital role of land use planning and its potential to promote equitable health outcomes, the Western Sydney Health Alliance engaged the services of SPHERE’s Healthy Urban Environments Collaboratory (HUE) and UNSW Sydney’s Centre for Health Equity Training, Research, and Evaluation (CHETRE). The objective was to evaluate whether the State Government’s land use planning instruments are applying an equity lens to enhance health outcomes and reduce health disparities.
The research involved a comprehensive analysis of 14 State Environmental Planning Policies (SEPPs) and eight Local Environmental Planning Policies
(LEPs) in relation to NSW Health’s Healthy Built Environment Checklist. The findings revealed a lack of clarity regarding the incorporation of health equity considerations within land use planning strategies. The research demonstrates that the current planning system frequently neglects the importance of promoting equity in health outcomes.
Although certain planning instruments acknowledged the importance of ensuring “equitable access,” only a few of them offered explicit definitions of equity within a planning context. There was also a scarcity of guidance on how to effectively achieve equity in health outcomes through these instruments.
These planning instruments have oversight of land use allocations, connections, transport modes, access to natural environments, public space design and amenity.
As part of the research, a comprehensive set of 14 indicators for Land Use Planning for Equitable Health Outcomes has been proposed. These indicators are specifically designed to support local governments in the Western Parkland City region, enabling them to assess and track healthy planning outcomes. By implementing these measures, local governments can effectively monitor progress and make informed decisions to foster healthier and more inclusive communities.
