A new economic valuation tool could help local authorities weigh up the public health impact of urban development decisions, according to research from three UK universities.
The study, co-authored by the University of East London (UEL), the University of Bath, and the University of Bristol, found that senior decision-makers in urban development currently have little incentive to factor in public health when shaping towns and cities.
Researchers argue the Health Appraisal for Urban Systems (HAUS) tool – a valuation model linking features of the built environment to health outcomes and their associated economic costs – could help local authorities and planning departments make healthier development choices, and reduce rates of diseases including obesity, cancer, cardiovascular disease and respiratory illness.
The link between urban environments and public health is well established, with factors such as housing quality, transport infrastructure, access to green space and walkability all influencing the risk of developing life-threatening diseases. However, improving urban environments as a preventative health measure is complex and requires coordinated action from multiple stakeholders.
To assess how economic evidence could support more joined-up decision-making, researchers conducted 167 qualitative interviews with stakeholders from government, industry and civil society across England’s urban development system, exploring how HAUS could support collaboration and informed decision-making across sectors. The study found stakeholders recognised the tool’s value in supporting shared decision-making and creating incentives for organisations to work together on health outcomes.
HAUS quantifies and monetises changes in disease occurrence and premature mortality linked to urban development interventions and the populations they affect. By translating health outcomes into economic terms, the tool is designed to help decision-makers understand the long-term value of healthier urban environments and support more informed investment and planning decisions.
The tool was initially developed during an earlier research pilot and was refined throughout the project in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It has since been adopted by the department in its appraisal guides for local authorities.
Dr Andrew Barnfield, senior lecturer in public health at UEL and co-author of the study, said: “The HAUS tool enables decision makers to account for health costs that are linked with the urban environment. As our work shows, this is vital for making healthier and more equitable places.”
Professor Sarah Ayres, from the University of Bristol’s School for Policy Studies, said: “The collaboration between TRUUD and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has created a version of the Health Appraisal of Urban Systems (HAUS) model which is to be used for housing, community and local government interventions. For the first time, there are now methods to quantify and value the potential health impacts of urban interventions for specific populations.”
Dr Geoff Bates, from the University of Bath’s Institute for Policy Research, said: “Making the economic case to pursue preventative policies is one way that can persuade policymakers to act to improve long-term health and wellbeing. Improving policymaker access to evidence and tools like HAUS that demonstrate the savings to the public purse from investing in healthier housing and urban environments is a step towards improving public health.”
Image credit: ldutko/Shutterstock
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