HebPlay Play Sufficiency Assessment

As part of the Planning (Scotland) Act 2019, the Comhairle has a new duty to prepare a Play Sufficiency Assessment (PSA),  including engagement on the   assessment to help ensure we have sufficient information to inform how the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (OHLDP) can help support consideration of children’s rights and make decisions about the future of the land around us.

1. While the provision of play spaces is not legally mandated, policies from the Scottish and UK Governments, and the United Nations emphasise the importance of outdoor play for children.
2. The right to play is set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), this legally binding human rights agreement, signed by 196 countries (as of 12 July 2022) outlines the fundamental rights of every child, regardless of their race, religion or abilities. Article 31 of the convention states: 'Every child has the right to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.'
3. In 2013, the UNCRC published General Comment 17 on Article 31. The purpose of this comment was to clarify the responsibilities of all countries within the United Nations for a child's right to play and emphasised the lack of protective legislation and investment in play opportunities and seeming invisibility of children in national and local level planning.
4. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child has officially been incorporated into law in Scotland, establishing a legal duty for public authorities, including local authorities, to uphold the rights of children as set out in the UNCRC.
5. There are a range of health, well-being, and educational benefits from outdoor play and whilst managed, fixed play spaces are also essential in meeting the needs of children to play outdoors, whether alone or as part of a group, valuable informal play opportunities exist in many open spaces, including natural spaces, open parkland, woodlands, beaches, and in some civic spaces.

"We want Scotland to be the best place to grow up. A nation which values play as a life-enhancing daily experience for all our children and young people; in their homes, nurseries, schools and communities." - Scotland's first national play strategy

7. The Play Sufficiency Assessment will be included as part of the evidence base for the new Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan, and it is hoped that it will provide a better understanding of the needs and demand in the community for play spaces, helping planners to identify where sites for play and outdoor recreation are required and how best to design these spaces to reflect the diverse needs of children and young people now and into the future.