Apply for a play street

Play streets can create a sense of community, while allowing children to make friendships, be active and play safely in the streets where they live.

Apply

You can apply for:

• a regular event – for example, once a month
• a one-off event – for example, on a national day like Clean Air Day or Car Free Day

Download, fill out and return the application form by email or post. Please include:

• the completed form
• a list of signatures/houses you've spoken with
• consultation evidence
• a map of the proposed area

It's free to apply for a play street.

After you apply there is a 21 day consultation period for members of the public to comment and say if they support or oppose the application.

Before you apply

You should apply at least 6 weeks before the event.

You must:

• let your neighbours know – you can use the template letter in the application form
• complete a resident survey form for each house in the closed section of the street – this is included in the application form
• make sure you have friends and neighbours to help on the day

What we do

Posters

You can download the following posters to help advertise your event:

• A5 play is back poster (pdf, 1 page(s), 155.03 KB)
• A5 car notification poster (pdf, 1 page(s), 118.18 KB)

Equipment

If your application is successful we can provide:

• traffic signs that say the road is closed
• cones
• high visibility waistcoats
• lanyards for all the stewards
• street closure instructions

These items are free. You'll need to store them for recurring events.

Advice sessions

We offer information sessions on how to:

• apply for a play street
• consult with neighbours
• steward an event
• run an event safely and practically
• manage a road closure

Suitable streets

Play streets should ideally be on:

• quiet residential streets
• cul-de-sacs

Unsuitable streets

The following are not suitable play streets:

• main roads
• bus routes
• bus diversion routes
• blue routes (emergency vehicle routes)
• roads where there are roadworks

For a list roads that cannot be closed see our unsuitable play streets (pdf, 4 page(s), 80.84 KB).

Street closure times

Streets can only be closed:

• for up to 3 hours
• during daylight hours (for recurring events closure times can be changed depending on the time of year)
• on the days and times agreed on the application

Further information

For more information on play streets see:

• playingout.net
• londonplay.org