Children in England ‘face barriers to outdoor play due to poor planning’

Fragmented' policies leading councils to prioritise approval of housebuilding over parks, study finds

Children in cities across England face barriers to playing outside because urban planners are prioritising housebuilding over parks, a study has found.

The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Cities and Health, found that planners were prioritising the approval of new homes ahead of outdoor play spaces due to a combination of policy misalignment, financial constraints and pressures stemming from a lack of housing.