Play Streets

What are Play Streets?

A Play Street gives children the chance to play safely in the streets where they live.

Play Streets:

  • increase the sense of community by bringing neighbours together
  • allow children to play near their home
  • give children the space to play energetically and promote activity and friendships

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Apply

You can apply to have:

  • regular Play Street events, such as once a month
  • Play Street special events on national campaign days like:
    • Clean Air Day
    • Car Free Day

Suitable streets

Ideally, the street is a:

  • cul-de-sac
  • quiet residential road

Unsuitable streets are:

  • main roads
  • bus routes
  • bus diversion routes
  • emergency vehicle routes

Please check our list of unsuitable streets (PDF, 81 KB) before applying.

Street closure times

Streets can only be closed:

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

Consult your neighbours

For application approval, we must see that at least 60% of the street residents support the application.

Before applying, you must:

  • send a letter or email to your neighbours explaining what you’d like to do (template included in the application pack)
  • complete a resident survey form for each household in the closed section of road (included in the application pack)

Recruit friends and neighbours

Make sure you have friends and neighbours to help on the day. You'll need people to stay at each end of the street and advise drivers about the street closure.

Application time

To give us time to process your application, you must apply at least 6 weeks before your first event.

Cost

There is no charge for this application.

Application form

To apply to have a road closed for a regular or special Play Street event, please download the information pack and application form:

You can only apply for 1 ad hoc street closure a year. If you want to have several special event closures, please apply for them at the same time.

Return by email the:

  • completed application form
  • consultation evidence
  • list of the households you have spoken with
  • map of the proposed area

We will check the details and let you know if we need more information.

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After you’ve applied

Consultation period

After applying there is a 21-day consultation period. This gives time for members of the public to submit comments either in support of or against the application.

Equipment 

If your application is approved, we will provide you with:

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

There is no charge for these.

You will need to store these and use them at all events.

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Posters and publicity information

We have created some leaflets and posters for you to advertise your event.

You can download these or contact us for printed copies.

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Information sessions

Session for parents

Please email us if you’re interested in a free information session for parents.

The information session covers:

  • the benefits of street play
  • simple steps to make your street more 'playable' and friendly
  • how to make an application
  • consulting with neighbours – dealing with objections and concerns
  • stewarding, safety and other practicalities

Session for volunteers

If useful, we can meet your volunteer team before the first event and advise on how road closures must be carried out.

Please contact us if you’d like to arrange this.

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Further information

The following organisations have useful information on Play Streets:

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Contact

Telephone 
020 8489 5351 

Email 
Smarter.travel@haringey.gov.uk 

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Page last updated:

September 21, 2022

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