The play streets scheme provides space for children to play energetically and creates new opportunities for socialising and friendships. Neighbours can work together setting up a play street.
You can apply for a temporary street play order to close your street for 2 hours a month so that children can play freely, outdoors and close to home.
What people say about play streets:
- I love street play because everyone can play with the skipping ropes and I can ride my scooter or bike in my street without worrying – Bobby age 8
- We love the foam footballs and riding our bikes in the street – Reggie and Owen age 8
- Street play has helped to develop the community spirit. It’s lovely to see everyone out in the street chatting and having a hot chocolate. – Play Street Steward
- The children love street play and are so happy when they are playing together outside their houses. – Parent
What support is provided?
To make it easy for you and your neighbours to set up a Play Street, we will:
We will host Street Play Network Meetings for organisers to discuss issues and find resolutions, answer any new questions, and bring forward suggestions.
Help with the application
Provide a guide to risk assessment, recruiting stewards, dealing with drivers and answering questions about the scheme.
Visit your first session to make sure it runs smoothly.
Provide a Street Play Kit including signage, cones, hi-vis jackets, whistles and information for stewards and organisers.
Send reminders to re-apply.
Before you apply
Some streets will not be suitable for this scheme, such as main roads and bus routes. Side streets and cul-de-sacs are usually the most appropriate.
Your temporary street play order application can be refused if streets are unsuitable or unacceptable levels of disruption would occur to the surrounding area.
Please use the contact form on this page to find out if your street is suitable.
Planning
You will need to gather support for street play from your neighbours before making a temporary street play order application. This gives residents an opportunity to ask any questions and resolve any queries they may have.
You should consider the best time and day for your street closure to happen. It will need to be the same time and day each month.
You will need to ask if any residents would like to be involved to help organise on-going sessions, or to become a steward for the play street sessions.
Parking and moving traffic
Residents will be able to enter or leave the street whilst street play is underway. Stewards will guide residents in or out of the street.
You will need to make sure you have enough stewards to operate the street play closure safely. Two stewards are required at each closure point. Additional stewards may be required depending on the street layout.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for a temporary street play order, please contact us.
Once we have received your form, we will be in contact to let you know if your street is suitable and what to do next.
