Integrating health, wellbeing, nature and sustainability (HWNS) outcomes into strategic place-making

Published on 7 May 2024

Integrating health, wellbeing, nature and sustainability (HWNS) outcomes into strategic place-making: co-designing a toolkit to support complex decision-making at a local level

Oliver James – University of Exeter

Jamie McCauley – University of Exeter

Amn image of Jen Scott sitting by a marsh on a wooden decking.

Jemma Sharman – Natural England

Tim Sunderland – Natural England

Jen Scott – Natural England

Partners

Overview

The toolkit is being co-developed as a high-level, inter-disciplinary decision-support tool that prioritises health, wellbeing, nature and sustainability outcomes, putting these at the centre of strategic planning conversations. The EXPLORE framework provides resources to bring together diverse disciplines, professions and sectors to support integrated planning; identify opportunities, synergies and trade-offs; and bridge the gap between technical information and practical solutions which will help people and their natural environment to thrive.

This is not a calculation tool. It provides an overview of key outcomes in an area and can be used alongside other more detailed and specialist tools and other resources where necessary.

The framework will be hosted on the Local Partnerships website for everyone to access. Anyone wanting to shape plans and activities in a local place will be able to use the toolkit to improve long-term outcomes for health, wellbeing, nature and sustainability.

The EXPLORE resources will:

Give insights as to what matters for these outcomes through data dashboards
Use factor mapping to work out what actions will support better health, wellbeing, nature and sustainability outcomes
Look ahead at the emerging key drivers and pressures shaping local places through the horizon-scanning framework
Provide a facilitation and guidance package

These resources will be most effective when used together in a workshop setting with the EXPLORE facilitation package and a trained facilitator.

RENEW is working closely with Natural England, partners and a small group of local authorities to continue developing and piloting the toolkit, to ensure it best meets the needs of its target audience. Together we have been engaging with local authorities, recruiting and working with digital developers, and exploring how a toolkit might also be used by local communities to engage with questions of biodiversity renewal within their area.

Aims

We know that high-quality health and wellbeing, supported by a healthy natural environment, are the basis for thriving local places and people. And yet, we also know that organisations involved in place-making are grappling with a challenging range of issues, from nature and climate emergencies to health and wellbeing crises. In light of this, Natural England has been co-developing a framework with a range of partners which takes account of the complex relationships which underpin different outcomes, aiding strategic planning.

This work aims to:

Co-design a framework with local authorities to support integrated decision-making that prioritises health, wellbeing, nature and sustainability as final outcomes in local strategic planning and place-making.
Explore how different local communities could make effective use of such a framework.

Next steps

RENEW are continuing to work with Natural England and local authorities on the Beta development of the framework before launching it to the public in 2025.