A Critical Step Forward: Play Sufficiency Amendment Reintroduced in the Lords
Following sustained leadership from Play England, Baroness Natalie Bennett has reintroduced the Play Sufficiency Amendment (NC82) during Committee Stage of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in the House of Lords.
📜 Read the amendment on Parliament’s website
This marks a critical step forward in our objective to restore a play-based childhood for every child in England by 2035.
At the Third Reading in the Commons, the Government chose not to vote down the amendment. Instead, the Minister for Housing and Planning gave a significant and constructive statement on the record, recognising the importance of play and committing to explore its inclusion in the next phase of national planning policy reform.
This reintroduction of the amendment in the Lords ensures that play remains firmly on the parliamentary agenda.
From Manifesto to Momentum: How We Got Here
This landmark amendment was developed by Play England and shaped by:
đź“Ś Our 2024 Manifesto, calling for Play Sufficiency legislation
đź“Ś The NPPF change we secured in December 2024, recognising formal play spaces in national planning policy
đź“Ś Our formal evidence submission to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill Committee in April 2025
đź“ŚPlay Sufficiency Amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill tabled in Parliament in June 2025
📌 Decades of national leadership on children’s right to play
It reflects our belief — shared across public health, education, planning, and childhood sectors — that play is not a luxury, it’s a right.
And it draws directly on successful legislation already in place in Wales and Scotland, bringing England in line with other Home Nations, and with our obligations under the UNCRC.
What the Amendment Will Do
Backed by evidence, inspired by our new 10-year strategy It All Starts with Play!, this amendment will:
âś… Require local authorities to assess, secure, enhance and protect sufficient play opportunities for children
âś… Embed Play Sufficiency Assessments into Local Plans and planning decisions
âś… Ensure no net loss of play spaces through development
âś… Require developers to deliver inclusive, high-quality, accessible play opportunities
âś… Mandate consultation with children, families, communities and play professionals
This is practical, no-cost, ready to implement — and long overdue.
What Happens Next?
As the Planning and Infrastructure Bill progresses through the Lords, we are calling on peers from all parties to support this vital amendment and ensure children’s play is no longer overlooked in decisions about housing, infrastructure, and public space.
Help us secure this change
This is our chance to show Parliament that children matter. That play matters. And that we are serious about building the infrastructure children need — not just to grow up, but to thrive. We’re calling on every supporter, parent, practitioner, councillor, community leader and organisation to take action now.
We’ve made it easy. Just use the template below to email or write to Peers and ask them to:
Publicly support the Play Sufficiency amendment
Speak up for play in Parliament
Help restore the infrastructure of childhood across England
đź“© Download the MP email/Letter Template (Word)
🔍 Find your Peers here
Share this post with your networks
Post on social media using: #ItAllStartsWithPlay #PlaySufficiency
Tag your Peers and ask them to support the amendment
Because children don’t just need homes 🏡 They need a childhood. And it all starts with play.
This is a pivotal moment to embed children’s right to play in English law — just as Wales and Scotland have already done. The amendment is a bold, achievable way to turn policy into legislation, and to deliver on Labour’s commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever.
But it will only happen if we raise our voices — and show the support is real, urgent, and widespread.
Let’s make history for play. Let’s give children their childhood back. The time for systemic change is now. It all starts with play.