The Living Framework: Place-Based Planning for Health Equity

Our new ‘Living Framework’ transforms public health priorities into place-based planning for healthier, more equitable communities.

Prior + Partners have developed The Living Framework, a dynamic ecosystem that translates public health priorities into spatially targeted, evidence-based planning strategies. It integrates data, JSNAs, local intelligence and lived experience to support healthy placemaking at both strategic and neighbourhood scales.

It directly supports the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requirement to “promote good health and prevent ill-health, especially where this would address identified local health and well-being needs and reduce health inequalities between the most and least deprived communities.” It also anticipates the proposed health duty in the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill, which seeks to strengthen the role of strategic authorities in addressing health inequalities through place-based planning, including Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs).

• Place Intelligence
  We gather and generate data and evidence, applying spatial diagnostics to identify the likely local determinants of health outcomes and inequality;
• Place Shaping
  We integrate this intelligence with planning, design and economics expertise to shape responsive, equitable plans, policies and strategies;
• Closing the Loop
  Our system supports locally specific monitoring indicators and feeds insights back into JSNAs and planning evidence bases — creating a continuous cycle of improvement.

Health equality starts with understanding place. The Living Framework empowers commissioning authorities, planners and communities to embed public health priorities into plan-making — ensuring strategies are not only visionary, but actionable and locally responsive.

The Living Framework is modular and adaptable. Whether you’re initiating a new project or enhancing an existing one, it evolves with your needs and as new evidence becomes available.

We’re working with commissioning authorities, planning teams and public health professionals to expand The Living Framework across the UK.

If you would like to hear more, please contact: shaun.andrews@priorpartners.com