An analysis of the benefits of a cross-sectoral approach to a prospective health impact assessment of a container port development

This paper discusses the perceived benefits to a local health authority and a district council environmental services department of a joint approach to a health impact assessment (HIA) of a proposed container port development in North Essex, England. The main perceived benefits were: the opening up of contacts within each organisation; the development of local working relationships between the agencies involved; the exchange of knowledge; the sharing of expertise; the opportunity to address a wide range of health impacts; greater credibility of the assessment during discussion with the decision-makers; the pooling of resources; and greater ownership of the assessment.