Levelling-Up Committee hears from architect and built development experts on Monday 26 February

• Inquiry: Children, young people and the built environment
• Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee

The Committee also publishes five further written evidence submissions (full list of written evidence).

The inquiry is examining how built environment policy impacts children and how better planning and building and urban design in England could enhance the health and well-being of children and young people.

The Committee heard at its first evidence session from public health experts, freedom to play advocates and campaigners (see transcript for 24 January session), that children and young people want and need to get out and about, as a vital part of growing up happy and healthy. However, witnesses painted a picture where kids are gradually disappearing from our streets, parks and open spaces.

At the evidence session on 26 February, the Committee is likely to look at what can be done through planning policy and the building of new homes to reverse this trend. By drawing on insights from history as well as case studies from the UK and abroad, the Committee will hear from experts, architects, a planner and a developer about how to put children and young people at the centre of built environment policy in England.

The children, young people and the built environment inquiry full terms of reference are included in the inquiry launch news story.

The LUHC Committee’s inquiry focusseson these issues relating to England.

Evidence session

Monday 26 February, location tbc

Witnesses

At 4pm

• Dinah Bornat, Architect and co-founder of ZCD Architects, former Mayor's design advocate to the Mayor of London and child friendly design expert
• Tim Gill, Independent researcher and author of Urban Playground: How child-friendly planning and design can save cities (RIBA 2021)

At 5pm

• Jonny Anstead, Director, TOWN
• Jo McCafferty, Director, Levitt Bernstein Architects
• Sarah Scannell, Assistant Director Planning, Birmingham City Council

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

Image: Pexels/Stanley Morales