TCPA Report: Raising the healthiest generation in history
Today the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) published a report - Raising the healthiest generation in history: why it matters where children and young people live.
The report is based on evidence collected by the then Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (now Housing, Communities and Local Government) select committee during its inquiry into children, young people, and the built environment. The inquiry received our submission, along with another 131 submissions of written evidence from various cross-sector organisations and experts. This was followed by three oral evidence sessions in early 2024.
The evidence submitted to the inquiry was stark, compelling, and powerful in demonstrating the urgent need for change.
As such, the report by the TCPA describes a concerning decline in children’s physical and mental health, with poverty and inequality cited as key factors. Additionally, it sets out a series of proposals aimed at creating healthier environments for children and young people. The report has been written by the TCPA in collaboration with: Playing Out, Fields in Trust, childhood expert Tim Gill and architect Dinah Bornat.
The various recommendations include:
Revise national planning policy and guidance (including the National Planning Policy Framework) to require that children and young people be considered and included in plan-making and decisions that shape their environments.
Adopt a pro-play approach, reviewing the use of ‘no ball game’ signs and other tools such as Secured by Design that can discriminate against children and young people in public space with a view to protecting children’s right to access space for play and socialising.
Create a national play strategy embedding informal play as integral for children and young people’s physical activity levels and consider the role of a play sufficiency duty in England.
Require and resource all local authorities to ensure children have sufficient access to outdoor play through open space strategies and local sufficiency measures.
Give careful consideration and a written response to the findings of the Play Commission.
The recommendations in the report reflect both Play England’s call for meaningful change in England as part of the government’s legislative programme through the introduction of play sufficiency legislation and a new national play strategy (as detailed below), in addition to the various asks set out in our manifesto.
Introduce Play Sufficiency legislation in England as part of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill
The introduction of Play Sufficiency legislation in England would ensure that all children, young people, and families have access to enough time, space, opportunity, and permission to play and recreation throughout all aspects of their daily lives. It would protect, provide, and enhance opportunities for play and recreation at home, at school, in parks and the built environment.
Develop a new National Play Strategy for England as part of the Children’s Wellbeing Bill
Developing a new, cross departmental national play strategy would ensure that play sufficiency legislation is brought into meaningful practice, and that England becomes a child-friendly country where all children have freedom to play at home, at school, in parks and the built environment.
The full report is available on the TCPA’s website.