The government is set to announce £18m investment into playgrounds at the Budget.

The government is set to announce a multi-million-pound investment in play at this week’s Budget, with the most deprived areas likely to be prioritised for funding.

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is expected to reveal details on how £18m will be spent on refurbishing 200 play areas across England. The investment forms part of the Government’s wider commitment to strengthen communities and “break down barriers to opportunity” under its Pride in Place programme.

The investment in play follows sustained lobbying from Play England, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Play – chaired by Tom Hayes MP – and growing cross-party recognition of the deep inequalities in children’s access to play.

Evidence shows there are stark inequalities across England when it comes to accessing the outdoors, with children from poorer households spending much less time outside than children from wealthier families.

Eugene Minogue, Executive Director of Play England, welcomed the news. He said: “£18 million for 200 playgrounds is a welcome step and a clear signal that play is finally back on the Government’s radar.

“Our work with the University of Sheffield shows just how unequal playground provision is across England, with children in deprived areas having far fewer places to play. Children make up 20% of our population, but they are 100% of our future, and their access to play should reflect that.

“But one-off funding will not close these gaps. We urgently need a new National Play Strategy and Play Sufficiency legislation within the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. That is why Play England has published It All Starts with Play! our ten-year strategy to rebuild a play-based childhood for every child. Without a national framework, playgrounds will remain unequal, often inaccessible, and too rarely designed to be fully inclusive.

“This Budget announcement is positive. Coupled with a new national play strategy and legislation, it could be the start of real, lasting change for children, families, and communities across England.”

Tom Hayes MP, who chairs the APPG on Play, added: “Until this year, MPs hadn’t debated playgrounds for eight years.

“MPs and the Government are listening to families when they say they want better playgrounds. Every child deserves safe, fun, and inclusive places to play, and we’re doing right by our children.

“When the last government effectively ignored playgrounds, is it any wonder they were left to rust – or that people felt pushed away from politics? This investment is a down payment not only on better playgrounds, but on brighter, stronger communities.”