Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is instigating new guidelines to transform play opportunities for children, young people and families in the capital.

Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance to the London Plan – published by the Mayor on 23 October – details benchmark standards for play and informal recreational space in all new developments.

It sets out a minimum standard of 10sq m (108sq ft) per child and tackles the design, quality and accessibility of children’s play areas in all newly built environments.

Play England – the national body to promote children’s play – is appealing to the government to endorse the same planning proposals nationwide.

Adrian Voce, director of Play England, said: “We hope the Mayor’s policy will influence the way the government and all local authorities consider the need to plan for children’s play space in residential areas.” Details: www.playengland.org.uk