The Building for a Healthy Life design tool has replaced the previous version Building for Life 12, which was the original 12-point self-assessment tool for creating better places. This latest edition has been written in partnership with Homes England, NHS England and integrates findings of the three-year Healthy Towns Programme.

Building for a Healthy Life is a Design Code to help people improve the design of new and growing neighbourhoods. BHL has been created to allow a broad range of people to use it easily – from members of a local community, local councillors, developers to local authorities – allowing those involved in a proposed new development to focus their thoughts, discussions and efforts on the things that matter most when creating good places to live.

Organised across three headings, 12 considerations are presented to help those involved in new developments to think about the qualities of successful places and how these can be best applied to the individual characteristics of a site and its wider context. These three headings will guide you from macro through to micro scale considerations. Each consideration is illustrated with clear written and visual prompts helping you to identify good practice and avoid common pitfalls. BHL can help local communities to set clear expectations of new developments by offering a series of easy to understand considerations that will also allow local communities to more easily identify the qualities (or deficiencies) of development proposals.

To help integrate this design tool into the Essex Design Guide the table below outlines the relationship between Building for a Healthy life, the National Planning Policy Framework, the National Design guide and the Essex Design Guide itself.

 

Integrated Neighbourhoods	National Planning Policy Framework	National Design Guide	Essex Design Guide
Natural connections	91a, 102c and e; 1-4d; 127b; 127f	B3; M1; M2; N1; R3	Permeability and legibility
Walking, cycling and public transport	20c; 91a; 91c; 127e	B1; B3; M1; R3	Pedestrian and cycle movement Transport and active travel
Facilities and services	102; 103	B1; B3; N1; P3; U1; U3	Services
Homes for everyone	60-62	B1; B2; U2; U3	Mixed tenure homes
Distinctive places: Making the most of what's there
Making the most of what’s there	122d; 127c; 127d; 153b; 184	C1; C2; I1; B2; R3	Historic Characterisation, Appropriate Use of Design Materials, Understanding Context, Built Context
A memorable character	122d; 127c; 127d	C2; I1; I2; I3; B3	Essex Character, Character and Context
Well defined streets and spaces	91a	B2; M2; N2; N3; P1; P2; H2; L3	The Key Principles of Public Open Space
Easy to find your way around	91b; 127b	I1; M1; M2; U1	Legibility, Movement
Streets for all
Healthy streets	91b; 102c and e;110a-d	M1; M2; N3; P1; P2; P3; H1; H2	Transport and Active Travel | Essex Design Guide
Cycle and car parking	101e; 127f; 105d	B2; M1; M3	Cycle Facilities, Accommodating the car
Green and blue infrastructure	20s; 91b; 91c; 127f; 155; 170d; 174	C1; B3; M1; N1; N2; N3; P1; P3; H1; R3; L1	Green Infrastructure, Access to Open Green and Blue Spaces
Back of pavement, front of home	127a-b; d; f	M3; H3; L3	Successful Criteria for Public Open Spaces, Specific Feature Design Guidance
Generally	7; 8; 124; 125; 126; 127; 130	15:16:17:20-29: 31-32	EDG and Manual for Streets, Streets and Roads
Using the tool as a discussion tool	39; 40-42; 125; 128; 129