Client: Catalan Government (Generalitat de Catalunya)
Location: Catalunya, Spain
Year: 2023
In the Catalan context of territorial planning, health appears as one of the cross-cutting issues to be taken into account, together with landscape and climate change.
This document sets out the conceptual framework for incorporating health into spatial planning and develops a practical methodology for future regional plans and local plans that will result from it.
Methodology
- Review of scientific evidence: a systematic review of scientific literature was conducted to establish the relationship between urban and territorial characteristics and health outcomes. This involved identifying modifiable urban determinants of health and linking them to specific health indicators.
- Development of a conceptual framework: a conceptual framework was established, defining health objectives, criteria, and guidelines for territorial planning.
Results
The results of the study are presented in the form of guidelines and a methodological roadmap for incorporating health into territorial planning:
- Guidelines for territorial systems: the guide provides specific guidelines for promoting health through the planning of open spaces, urban settlements, and infrastructure.
- Identification of indicators and monitoring standards: Relevant health indicators were identified to track and evaluate the health impacts of territorial planning decisions.
- Roadmap for implementation: a practical roadmap was developed to guide the incorporation of health considerations into the different stages of territorial planning, including diagnosis, proposal development, and evaluation. This also emphasised the importance of considering health impacts at different scales, from the territorial level down to the local and neighborhood levels.
By applying this methodology and following the proposed guidelines, territorial planning can become a powerful tool for promoting public health and well-being.
