Campaigners urge PM to reinstate national play strategy
Campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister to revive a national play strategy that would make children's play a legal consideration in policy and planning decisions.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Campaigners are calling on the Prime Minister to revive a national play strategy that would make children's play a legal consideration in policy and planning decisions. The call comes as new data shows that playing out has halved in a generation, with increases in traffic, safety fears and screen time blamed for the decline.
In Leeds, the council has made it easier for residents to close their road for a couple of hours and turn it into a 'play street'. About 100 streets in the city now regularly close for play, with the council targeting areas that need it most. One resident said: 'It is really important especially over here because of the area that it is and it is a deprived area so the children absolutely love it because it is a safe space for them to play.' Children on one newly closed street described the fun of meeting new friends and playing football and scooters.
Campaigners want the new Prime Minister to bring back a national play strategy, something he championed in 2008 when he was culture secretary. They want councils to consider play in housing and planning decisions. In Wales and Scotland it is already a legal requirement for councils to ensure enough opportunities for children to play across neighbourhoods and public spaces. Leeds is already working on this: a council representative said 'play is everyone's business across the local authority across the city because it feeds into your waste management strategy, it feeds into how you design your streets and spaces.'
The government says it is investing 18 million pounds to reopen lost play spaces and protect existing playgrounds through planning rules. It has been 18 years since Andy Burnham championed the importance of play as culture secretary, and many hope he will swing into action again to make it a national priority. In the meantime, thousands of children are rediscovering their streets as a place to play safely and have fun this summer.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC One |
|---|---|
| In Wales and Scotland it is already a legal requirement for councils to ensure play opportunities. | |
| Outdoor play among children has halved in a generation. | |
| The government is investing 18 million pounds to reopen lost play spaces and protect existing playgrounds. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The report focused on a local example in Leeds, using interviews with children and a council representative to illustrate the benefits of play streets. It highlighted the campaign for a national play strategy, noting that Wales and Scotland already have legal requirements, and referenced Andy Burnham's past role. The tone was neutral and human-interest driven, with a clear narrative of decline and local action.
- “It is really important especially over here because of the area that it is and it is a deprived area so the children absolutely love it because it is a safe space for them to play.”
- “Play is everyone's business across the local authority across the city because it feeds into your waste management strategy it feeds into how you design your streets and spaces”
- “It's been 18 years since andy burnham championed the importance of play as culture secretary and many are hoping he'll swing into action again to make it a national priority”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.