Health inequalities are the unfair and avoidable differences in health experienced by different people and communities. These differences can be influenced by a wide range of factors, including income, employment, housing, education, disability, access to transport and local services, and the environments in which people live. The impact of planning decisions may therefore be experienced differently depending on people's circumstances and the characteristics of the place.
The Barton and Grant Health Map illustrates how health is influenced not only by individual factors, but also by the social, economic and environmental conditions that surround people and communities – many of which can be influenced by planning and development decisions
Why does this matter for planning?
Planning decisions can either help reduce or unintentionally widen health inequalities.
For example, a development that relies heavily on car travel may create greater barriers for people who are unable to drive, have limited income, or face mobility challenges. In contrast, a development with accessible homes, local services, inclusive public spaces and good walking, wheeling and public transport connections may help more people access opportunities, remain independent and participate in community life. This can support more equitable outcomes across different population groups.
Key considerations in Suffolk
While circumstances vary between places, Suffolk evidence suggests it may be particularly important to consider:
- Deprivation.
- Ageing populations.
- Children and young people.
- Disability and SEND.
- Housing affordability and fuel poverty.
- Access to services in rural and coastal communities.
- Transport dependence and connectivity.
- Social isolation, loneliness and mental wellbeing.
These factors may influence how people experience a place and their ability to benefit from housing, employment, services, transport networks, green space and community infrastructure.
For more information on Health Inequalities in Suffolk visit the Closing the Inequality Gap section of the Suffolk JSNA.
Understanding your local context
The Building Healthy Places indicators have been developed to help users understand the characteristics of a place and the factors that may influence how different people experience it. Drawing on national and local data sources, the indicators provide insight into population characteristics, deprivation and inequality, disability and SEND, housing, access to services, transport and connectivity, health and wellbeing, environmental conditions, safety and community context.
Together, these measures can help build a more complete picture of a place, highlighting local opportunities, challenges and inequalities that may be relevant to planning and development. Understanding these factors can support the application of the Design and Placemaking features and help ensure proposals respond to local needs and circumstances.
The indicators can be explored through the Suffolk Local Insight Tool using a postcode, place or area search. This allows users to access place-based evidence for a specific location and identify the factors that may be most relevant when considering health, wellbeing and design outcomes. The feature pages within this resource highlight indicators that may be particularly relevant to each Design and Placemaking feature, while the Local Insight Tool provides access to the full Building Healthy Places indicator set.
Relevant Data and Intelligence Sources
The Building Healthy Places indicators help identify local population characteristics, inequalities, environmental conditions and access-related challenges particularly relevant to planning and health. To provide additional context, each Design and Placemaking feature page signposts relevant Suffolk JSNA resources that explore specific themes, population groups or places in greater detail.
Together, these resources can help users understand the needs of local communities, identify opportunities and challenges, and support a more evidence-informed approach to planning and design.
Further sources from Suffolk's JSNA that might be useful but that may not have been specifically referenced against any of the design and placemaking features pages are included below:
- Suffolk’s Coastal Communities (2025)
- The Public Health and Communities Team created a detailed planning and health evidence resource for developers and decision-makers in 2023
- Suffolk in 20 Years' Time (2025)
If you have any questions about the data and intelligence within the Suffolk JSNA you can email Suffolk's Knowledge, Intelligence and Evidence (KIE) Team for help and support: knowledgeandintelligence@suffolk.gov.uk
Sources: Marmot, M. et al. (2020) Health Equity in England: The Marmot Review 10 Years On (https://www.health.org.uk/publications/reports/the-marmot-review-10-years-on). / Suffolk Health Inequalities Profile (2025) (https://www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/asset-library/JSNA/Health-inequalities-profile-2025.pdf). / Barton, H. and Grant, M. (2006) A Health Map for the Local Human Habitat. Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 126(6), pp. 252–253. / Suffolk Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) (https://www.healthysuffolk.org.uk/jsna).