As part of the children, young people and the built environment inquiry, government's Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has published written evidence submissions on how better urban design could enhance the wellbeing of young people.
The inquiry was launched in November by the cross-party group of MPs to investigate how children and young people use outdoor public spaces.
The written evidence submissions cover issues relating to child development and play, equality of access to spaces, community benefits and community concern over anti-social behaviour.
Charity Make Space for Girls, which campaigns for better provision for teenage girls in public spaces, contributed evidence, saying that: “The needs of girls and young women in these spaces are rarely met and their voices are not heard or acted upon in planning or other policies.”
Barnardo’s also contributed evidence, stating that “children and young people value outdoor spaces and consider them a vital part of their health and wellbeing” but some “do not routinely feel safe in local community or nature spaces”.
A general consensus in the evidence was that spending time outdoors is beneficial for children’s mental and physical health.
Playing Out, a Bristol non-profit organisation, stated: “Children and young people’s physical and mental health are in serious, long-term decline, significantly exacerbated by poverty and inequality.”
It also concluded that there are “environmental barriers” stopping children from accessing play, and a “co-ordinated cross-departmental approach is needed” to tackle these.
Professor Alison Stenning of Newcastle University also submitted evidence, suggesting that play and accessibility to outdoor spaces benefits the local community as well as just children.
He wrote: “The value of everyday play in neighbourhoods in building community resilience and connection, for those with and without dependent children, should be recognised and reflected in the framing of policy and planning approaches.”
An evidence session to review submissions is planned tomorrow (24 January).
MPs are expected to question witnesses, including public health experts, freedom to play advocates and campaigners, on child development and the built environment and examine changes to children’s lives outside.
