Growing role of PH in impact assessment of infrastructure developments
New road, airport, rail schemes, new incinerators, new buildings and similar developments impact on the health of local residents. Public health has a role in commenting on and making recommendations for health-related improvements.
Infrastructure schemes of many kinds, including public-private financing initiatives, may impact on the health and wellbeing of local residents and commuters. Public health, together with health authorities in general, engage in statutory processes run by the Environment Agency which permit working with the Health Protection Agency to monitor the health impacts of new developments and carry out duties known as Employment Permitting. Increasing urbanisation and rising population densities generate new infrastructure schemes and such schemes in turn add to urbanisation and demographic pressures.
The future public health workforce whilst undertaking existing statutory duties will have to more widely engage, inform and liaise with many agencies. These agencies include the EA, HPA, local authorities, other relevant agencies, the private sector and the public at large. This involves knowledge and understanding of legal and regulatory procedures associated with such schemes including risk allocation, mitigation, and transposing that knowledge into the context of public health service delivery and public information to ensure populations well-being and health awareness.
Sources or references
- The Impact of Community Design and Land-Use Choices on Public Health: A Scientific Research Agenda (2003), Dannenberg, A.L et al, American Journal of Public Health, 2003 Sept 93(9)
- Global Infrastructure Needs: Prospects and Implications for Public and Private Actors: OECD Futures Project: Infrastructure to 2030. (2007) OECD Paris
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
