Government to pump millions into improving playgrounds
The Government has announced an £18 million investment over the next two years (starting in April 2026) to refurbish and improve up to 200 children’s playgrounds across England, predominantly in deprived communities. As part of the wider £5 billion ‘Pride in Place’ programme, this investment has been ring-fenced for playgrounds and aims to “breathe new life” into neglected public spaces, allowing local authorities to create safe, high-quality, and inclusive play areas.
The funding, spearheaded by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP, follows intense lobbying from Play England and the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play.
While the announcement has been welcomed by play advocacy groups, they have called for a long-term national play strategy to address the wider decline in play spaces.
Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, said:
“£18 million for 200 playgrounds is a welcome step and a clear signal that play is finally back on the Government’s radar. Our work with the University of Sheffield shows just how unequal playground provision is across England, with children in deprived areas having far fewer places to play. Children make up 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future, and their access to play should reflect that.
But one-off funding will not close these gaps. We urgently need a new National Play Strategy and Play Sufficiency legislation within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. That is why Play England has published It All Starts with Play! our ten-year strategy to restore a play-based childhood for all children by 2035. Without a national framework, playgrounds will remain unequal, often inaccessible, and too rarely designed to be fully inclusive.
This Budget announcement is positive. Coupled with a new national play strategy and legislation, it could be the start of real, lasting change for children, families, and communities across England.”
If you are a council, or community organisation looking to upgrade your playground, contact our design team today to create a new exciting place for play.