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Annex 2:
What government has already done
Introduction
1.
This consultation document sets out specifically targeted policies which will support delivery
of play. However, play is also supported indirectly through a number of government’s wider
policies. Details of these are set out in this annex.
Play and health
2. The new cross-government strategy on obesity Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives sets out a series of
measures to help implement the guidance and ensure that health is built more robustly into
the fabric of our lives. This strategy commits to:
•l encourage local planning authorities, when considering planning applications relating to all
types of outdoor space, to include open space and playing fields to support the vision of a
more physically active society; and
•l use the planning policy review announced in the Planning White Paper to identify where
changes can be made or additional guidance produced, to help tackle obesity and support
healthy communities. This will build on the agenda already set out in The Children’s Plan to
improve the usability of public spaces for play.
3.
4.
New guidance from NICE sets out the first recommendations – based on evidence of
effectiveness and cost-effectiveness – on how to improve the physical environment in order to
encourage and support physical activity. It complements previous NICE guidance on obesity
and is intended to guide future investment in urban design, transport routes, buildings and
school playgrounds.
Recommendations that refer to play include ensuring that:
•l school playgrounds are designed to encourage varied and physically active play;
•l pedestrians, cyclists and users of other modes of transport that involve physical activity are
given the highest priority when developing or maintaining roads; and
•l public open spaces and public paths can be reached on foot or by bicycle, and maintained
to a high standard.
Fair Play: A consultation on the play strategy
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