New report urges child-centred approach to planning

A new report has underlined the barriers many children face in finding safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces to play – and makes a powerful case for putting children at the heart of how built environments are planned and designed.

Published on 14 October, the paper, a House of Commons library research briefing titled Children, young people and the built environment, highlights how children’s access to outdoor play has been steadily eroded by traffic, parental safety concerns, inequitable access to green space and the steady disappearance of informal play opportunities. It also points to “anti-play” culture in some communities, where restrictive signage and housing policies have made it harder for children to use local spaces freely.

Calling for a “child-centred, place-based” approach, the briefing argues that neighbourhoods designed around children’s needs are healthier,more active and more socially connected — and that enabling children to move independently through their communities supports both wellbeing and sustainability. For play professionals, the document provides valuable evidence and policy leverage to champion children’s rights within planning, design and public policy. It could strengthen arguments in local consultations, inform play sufficiency assessments and help forge new partnerships between play organisations, planners and public health teams. For a more in-depth look at the paper, see p.16.