The Transport Planning Society has long been an advocate of greater partnership with public health officials in the formulation of transport policies, and welcomes the NICE guideline NG70 on air pollution: outdoor air quality and health (see below for link), which offers advice on measures to improve air quality and so prevent a range of health conditions and deaths.  

TPS, along with several associated societies, responded to the NICE consultation emphasising the need to focus on the reduction of vehicle-based emissions. Recognising the need for an holistic approach to promote positive health outcomes through increased everyday physical activity, reduced air pollution, safer streets and improved multi-modal accessibility, TPS argued that “ultimately it is the shift to less car-dependent lifestyles that will meet air pollution reduction and other health policy targets”. As such TPS welcomes the increased focus in the guidance on taking action to reduce the number of motorised trips in new developments, to design in walking and cycling through the planning system, and to implement Clean Air Zones.

TPS continues to contribute to the debate around transport planning and public health. Our Transport for Better event series has explored how transport planners can best support city leaders to enable their cities to become better places – in terms of their public, economic and environmental health.

This final guideline has now been published on the NICE website. You can also find the supporting evidence, as well as all the stakeholder comments that were received during consultation and the responses to these comments. The comments were invaluable in helping NICE to develop and refine the guideline. They have also produced an equality impact assessment to support the guideline.

The recommendations in the guideline have been included in a NICE Pathway, which is an online tool that brings together all related NICE guidance and associated products in a set of interactive, topic-based diagrams.