Physical activity and the environment

Implementing NICE guidance

January 2008

NICE public health guidance 8

What this presentation covers

Scope

Recommendations

Costs and savings

Discussion

Scope

This guidance makes recommendations on ‘Promoting and creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity’

Overview of recommendations

Strategies, policies and plans

Transport

Public open spaces

Buildings

Schools

Involve local communities and experts in all stages of development

Prioritise the need for people to lead physically active lives – including those with impaired mobility

Assess the impact of the proposals on physical activity levels

Strategies, policies and plans

Transport

Prioritise:

• Pedestrians and cyclists

• People who use other transport involving physical activity (including those whose mobility is impaired)

Reproduced by kind permission of J Bewley/Sustrans

Transport: ways of prioritising key groups

Widen pavements

Introduce cycle lanes

Restrict motor vehicle access

Introduce road-user charging schemes

Introduce traffic-calming schemes

Create safe routes to schools

Transport

Plan and provide walking and cycling routes to schools and other public facilities that are:

• convenient, safe and attractive

• accessible by everyone, including those whose mobility is impaired

Public open spaces

Ensure public open spaces and paths:

• can be reached on foot, by bicycle, using other modes of transport involving physical activity and via public transport

• are safe, attractive and welcoming to everyone and are maintained to high standard

Reproduced by kind permission of J Bewley/Sustrans

Ensure workplaces and campus sites are linked to walking and cycling networks

During design or refurbishment, ensure stairs are designed and positioned to encourage use

Clearly signpost staircases and make them attractive to use

Buildings

Schools

Ensure school playgrounds are designed to encourage varied, physically active play

Primary schools should create areas in the playground to encourage different types of physical activity (for instance, by using different colours)

Costs and savings

The economic benefits associated with increased physical activity levels far outweigh any initial costs

Assess local practice to gauge local costs

For discussion

• Who do we need to work with?

• What needs to change?

• How can we prioritise the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and users of other modes of transport involving physical activity?

For discussion (2)

• What actions can be taken immediately?

• What actions can be taken in the longer term?

• How should we manage this change?

Quick reference guide – a summary

Visit www.nice.org.uk/PH008 for:

The guidance

QRG

Costing report

Find out more