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Health Impact Assessments

Health Impact Assessments

HAPI Health Assessment Tools
The Health and Places Initiative (HAPI) has developed a suite of three health assessment tools to evaluate past planning outcomes or new planning and design proposals. Click here to watch a webinar recording about the HAPI health assessment tools.

Click on the links below to view external health impact assessments, organized by topic:

General HIA Resources

Design for Health
Design for Health (DFH) is a collaborative project that serves to bridge the gap between the emerging research base on community design and healthy living and the everyday realities of local government planning. The DFH team developed a series of HIA tools, resources, and background information to guide planners and public health practitioners in conducting an HIA.

Health Impact Project
The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, is a U.S. based initiative designed to promote the use of health impact assessments (HIAs) as a decision-making tool for policymakers. The website contains research and analysis, news, and a database of HIA’s conducted in the United States.

HIA Connect
Based at the Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation (CHETRE) in Australia, HIA Connect supports people and organizations within and beyond the health sector to develop the skills and experience to undertake and commission HIAs.  The resource page links to HIA reports, publications and guides.

HIA Gateway
The HIA Gateway, housed at Public Health England (UK) provides access to resources and information on health impact assessment for those new to HIA, practitioners of HIA and those wishing to commission HIAs or some other Impact Assessment process.

Health Impact Assessment Information and Insight for Policy Decisions, Reports
A joint project of the Partnership for Prevention and researchers at the UCLA School of Public Health, this website is intended for academics interested in learning more about health impact assessment and, policy-makers and stakeholders interested in finding out more about the health impacts of policies. The Reports & Publications page provides examples of HIA’s conducted in California and the United States.

International Health Impact Assessment Consortium (IMPACT)
Based at the University of Liverpool (England), IMPACT’s website provides a list of HIAs it has conducted throughout England.

National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy
This Canadian centre offers information, resources and examples of HIAs in Canada.

UCLA HIA Clearinghouse
The University of California, Los Angeles (USA) Health Impact Assessment Project has compiled a list of completed and in-progress HIAs. The website also contains reports and articles on HIA methods, training guides, background information on the connections between different types of policies and projects and their downstream health effects, and information on HIA legislation in the United States.

Welsh Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU)
WHIASU is the policy, research and development division of Public Health Wales, which provides information and advice to those in the process of conducting an HIA. The WHIASU website lists HIA reports and case studies from Wales.

World Health Organization HIA Examples Page
The World Health Organization has compiled a selection of HIA-related research and examples, grouped by resource/evaluation type and subject area.

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Economic Development

A Prospective Rapid Health Impact Assessment of the proposed Sports Stadium and Retail Development in Kirkby (2008)
This Health Impact Assessment (HIA) aims to identify the potential health effects of the proposed football stadium and associated retail development as part of the regeneration of Kirkby town centre (England).

The London Olympics Health Impact Assessment (2004)
Prepared by consultant for the London Health Commission and the London Development Agency, the HIA had two parts: a desktop assessment using many existing reports and a workshop with 21 key participants (including advocates, government representatives, academic and academics). The HIA looked at construction, operation, and post games time periods and the consultant produced a 155 page report. This comprehensive report contains substantial background information, results from exercises in the workshop including some interesting voting activities, and clear recommendations.

A Desk-based Health Impact Assessment of the North West Regional Economic Strategy (2006)
This report describes the potential health effects of the North West Regional Economic Strategy (RES) on the population of the U.K.’s North West, identified from the desk-based health impact assessment. This HIA is concerned with improving health and reducing health , and was undertaken as a desk-based exercise over a two-day period.

2014 Commonwealth Games Health Impact Assessment Report: Planning for Legacy (2009)
Focusing on the issue of inequality, this report proposes how to be sensitive to the diverse population of Glasgow. Conducted by Glasgow City Council, Chief Executive’s Office, Corporate Policy Health Team working in partnership with: Glasgow Centre for Population Health, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Public Health Resource Unit, and the Medical Research Council Social and Public Health Sciences Unit. An attractive and readable summary is also available.

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Environmental

Health Impact Assessment of Land Remediation Options: Site of the Former Phurnacite Factory at Abercwmboi (2003)
The report reflects a collaborative HIA of land remediation options for the former site of a phurnacite-fuel briquette factory in Wales. The likely impacts of the processes involved on the physical and mental health of the community were examined in terms of the relevant scientific and medical literature, the history of the site and the evidence of local people.

Rapid HIA of Jersey Waste Disposal Plant: Stage 1 (2007) and Stage 2 (2008)
Assesses health effects of an Energy from Waste Facility proposed for the Island of Jersey. Prepared by a team from the University of Liverpool. The stage 2 report, which focused on the distribution of health effects, contains a number of helpful tables and charts including a very clear summary of health impacts (see pages 10-11).

A Rapid Health Impact Assessment of Birmingham International Airport’s Proposed Runway Extension (2008)
The Birmingham International Airport (UK) commissioned a rapid HIA to assess the development and operation of proposals to extend the main runway. This HIA was regional in scope, but also undertook a local analysis of the potential impacts, the geographical and population distribution of these potential effects.

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HIA Evaluations

Evaluation of Health Impact Assessment: Clark County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2011)
This report evaluates the role of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in the development and adoption of the Clark County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, adopted in November 2010. The report includes an outcome and impact evaluation of the HIA, and aims to aid Clark County Public Health staff in judging the effectiveness of this HIA, as well as screening and scoping future HIAs.

The Impact Evaluation of the Christchurch Urban Development Strategy Health Impact Assessment (2008)
Following a 2005 HIA on the Christchurch (New Zealand) Urban Development Strategy, this evaluation looks at the impact of the two scenario options presented in the HIA: concentration versus ‘business as usual’ on health – focusing on water, air, housing, transport, social connectedness and Māori.

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Health Facilities and Programs

Health Impact Assessment of the Making Leeds Better Programme
This HIA is of the Making Leeds Better (MLB) programme, a collaborative plan to improve health and social care in Leeds developed by Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds Primary Care Trust, Social Services and Leeds Mental Health Trust, and supported by Leeds City Council. The HIA aimed to influence and support MLB decision making in order to maximize positive health impacts, minimize negative health impacts and reduce health inequalities.

Health Impact Assessment of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act (2010)
The Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA), in partnership with the Centre for Health Equity Training, Research and Evaluation (CHETRE) from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) conducted an HIA to provide a structured, evidence-informed method for examining the potential positive, negative and often unanticipated consequences of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER) on the health and wellbeing of children and people living in the prescribed communities.

Hospitals and Community Health HIA: A Study of Localized Health Impacts of Hospitals (2008)
This HIA examines the impact of transportation, land use, urban design and future growth on the residents and neighborhoods located in the vicinity of Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. The final product of this HIA is a set of evidence-based recommendations that inform decision-makers and the general public about the health-related issues associated with the project and suggest how to enhance positive health impacts while mitigating negative health impacts.

Manchester Healthy Living Network: Mental Well-being Impact Assessment (MWIA)(2009)
This HIA is an example of a project assessing mental health effects of programs including volunteering, food programs, and health development. This rather large file becomes more manageable if you compress the images using the automated Microsoft Word function for doing this.

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Housing

A Health Impact Assessment of Social Housing Redevelopment in Devonport, Plymouth (England) (2008)
This HIA aimed to assess the current and future health and wellbeing impacts of housing regeneration proposals in Devonport, which include the demolition of 448 existing Council dwellings to be replaced by 258 new dwellings, 65 of which would be social housing units. The proposal suggests changing the dwelling mix to increase the proportion of houses rather than flats, and changing the tenure mix in order to significantly increase the ratio of owner-occupied dwellings.

Health Impact Assessment: Dove Gardens (2005)
This report details the findings of a HIA carried out on a housing redevelopment project in Derry, England. The report offers examples of each of the steps involved in preparing the HIA, as well as results and recommendations.

HIA of Portland, Oregon City Council's Rental Housing Inspections Program (2012)
The City of Portland, Oregon (USA) conducted an HIA of its rental housing inspection program compared the program’s two current inspections models, the standard inspection model and the pilot enhanced model, finding that both improve the health of rental housing residents but that the enhanced model has greater potential to contribute to improved health and health equity.

Housing for Health? A Screening Health Impact Assessment of the Consultation Draft of the Regional Housing Strategy (2007)
The purpose of this report is to support the development of a Regional Housing Strategy (RHS). The North East Assembly, as the lead partner for the North East Regional Housing Board in the U.K., is developing an updated RHS to replace the existing strategy produced in 2005. A group of individuals with a range of skills and backgrounds, including public health and housing, screened the consultation draft of the Strategy for Potential Health and Inequality Impact in March 2007.

A Rapid Concurrent Health Impact Assessment of the Liverpool Mutual Homes Housing Investment Programme: Final Report (2009)
Liverpool Mutual Homes (LMH), a tenant-led housing organization in Liverpool (UK), commissioned an HIA to assess physical investments and upgrades to the social housing units they operated.

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Planning—City and Regional

Arden Hills Healthy City Planning Workshop (2010)
Focused on the proposed redevelopment of the TCAAP (Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant) site in Arden Hills, Minnesota (USA), the Arden Hills Healthy City Planning Workshop followed a Rapid Assessment approach. The background appendices provide fairly complete documentation of all steps of the process including photographs of every exercise in the Rapid HIA.

Bungendore Health Impact Assessment: A Rapid Health Impact Assessment of Two Development Scenarios in Bungendore, New South Wales (May 2006)
In this report, two growth scenarios have been evaluated that investigate the implications of future growth on the health of its residents. The first scenario examines infill development occurring within the existing boundaries of the village. The second scenario investigates the re-zoning of some agricultural land on the perimeter of Bungendore for residential and other urban purposes.

Devens Health Impact Assessment (2014)
Conducted by the Devens Enterprise Commission in Massachusetts (USA), the regulatory agency overseeing the redevelopment of a 4,400 acre former military base located 35 miles west of Boston, the HIA focused on how land use planning and design decisions can influence public health outcomes.

Health Impact Assessment, Derby Redevelopment Area, Historic Commerce City, Colorado (2007)
This HIA demonstrates an  imaginative use of participation and analysis tools. These range from computer mapping and proposals for street redesign to photos taken by residents and stills from a video produced by local high school students. Located in a lower income, majority Latino area of suburban Denver the HIA was conducted by the Tri-County Health Department who in turn employed short-term consultants on special topics. With a focus on physical activity and nutrition, recommendations from the 65- page report fed into a master plan.

Health Impact Assessment: Greater Christchurch Urban Development Strategy Options (2006)
This is a report on a HIA undertaken by the Canterbury District Health Board in New Zealand. The report formally documents the rationale behind performing a HIA on the strategy, the process involved and the conclusions reached.

Mac Arthur BART Transit Village Health Impact Assessment (2007)
Conducted by the University of California, Berkeley Health Impact Group (UCBHIG), this HIA focuses on a transit-oriented development project in Oakland, CA focusing on several determinants of human health including, housing, social segregation, open space, air quality, environmental noise, and traffic hazards.

Marsh Farm Central Area Regeneration Masterplanning Health Impact Assement (2009)
This HIA assesses the potential effects and impacts of the demolition and rebuilding of the central residential and commercial area in a masterplanned community in Luton, England on local residents’ health and wellbeing.

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Transportation

Alconbury Health Impact Assessment: Final Report (2002)
This summary report—“From Bombs to Boom! HIA on a Former Air Base”—provides an example of a well-illustrated final HIA rapid assessment report. The proposed Alconbury airfield redevelopment was for a road and rail freight-distribution center. Initial screening for potential health impacts identified both positive and negative consequences for human health and well-being, within the population of interest.

City of Decatur: Community Transportation Plan (2007)
As part of the City of Decatur, Georgia (USA) community transportation plan, the city, in partnership with the Georgia Institute of Technology conduced a rapid HIA on health impacts related to safety, social connections and physical activity as they are affected by the transportation and land use environment.

Health Effects of Road Pricing in San Francisco, California (2011)
This report documents the process and findings of a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) conducted by the San Francisco Department of Public Health on one future road pricing scenario being studied by the San Francisco County Transportation Authority (SFCTA).

Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project: Health Impact Assessment (2010)
The Oregon Public Health Institute (OPHI) and Metro, the Portland area’s tri-county regional government, conducted an HIA to assess this transit project and three transit alternatives—no-build, enhanced bus service, and streetcar. This HIA focused on assessing the study outcome’s probable impacts on the following four health determinants: ppportunities for physical activity, air quality, access to health supportive resources, and safety from traffic crashes.

Lowry Corridor Phase 2: Health Impact Assessment (2007)
This HIA focuses on the redevelopment of a major road in Minneapolis (USA). The report contains several well thought-out worksheets and a number of interesting maps.

Rapid Health Impact Assessment: Road Safety Unit (Safer Routes to School) (2001)
This is an example of a rapid, retrospective HIA that the Westminster, England, transportation department chose to do on its Road Safety Unit (Safer Routes to School). Using the Merseyside Guidelines for Health Impact Assessment as a framework, the aim was to make a qualitative assessment of the potential health impacts of the Westminster Council’s activities relating to Road Safety Unit (Safer Routes to School) with a particular emphasis on inequalities and on local strategic partnerships.

SR 520 Health Impact Assessment: A bridge to a healthier community (2008)
Conducted by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and Seattle & King County Dept. of Public Health (Washington, USA), this HIA assessed the health implications of a bridge replacement and high occupancy vehicle (HOV) project for State Route (SR) 520, a project originally constructed in 1963 with little attention to the health problems associated with car
emissions, neighborhood disruption, and degradation of the natural environment.

Wairau/Taharoto Corridor Road Widening Project Mini Health Impact Assessment (2006)
This mini-HIA focused on the future upgrade of the Wairau/Taharoto Road Corridor in New Zealand, which are among the busiest roads in the North Shore City, carrying on average 26,000 and 30,000 vehicles per day, respectively. The HIA recommendations were split into sections that reflected the organization that had the most ability to implement each recommendation.

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Visually Interesting HIA’s

Those making presentations about HIAs often need to find ones that will look good when used in a presentation. The following HIAs have interesting illustrations of various types.

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