The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has published written evidence submissions for its children, young people and the built environment inquiry.

The inquiry is examining how better planning and building and urban design in England could enhance the health and well-being of children and young people.

The written evidence is published ahead of the opening public evidence session on Wednesday 24 January with public health experts, freedom to play advocates and campaigners.

The written evidence published includes evidence from those from architects, child development experts, developers, planners, including organisations such as the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA), Playing Out, Fields in Trust, Intelligent Health, and academics including Professor Helen Dodd (Professor of Child Psychology at University of Exeter) and Dr Jennifer Wills Lamacq, DECPsy Academic and Professional Tutor, UCL (see the full list of evidence submissions).

The written evidence submissions cover a range of issues relating to child development and play, children’s equality of access to spaces, community benefits and concerns about children and young people’s presence in outdoor spaces and fears around anti-social behaviour.

At Wednesday’s evidence session, the cross-party group of MPs are likely to question witnesses on a range of topics relating to child development and the importance of the built environment, as well as the role of outdoor play and issues around the equality of access to public spaces.

The session is also likely to examine what changes in recent years to children’s lives outside and to their level of freedom and independence. MPs are also likely to look at community attitudes to children and young people’s presence in outdoor spaces.

In this inquiry, the Committee will hear from witnesses including built environment experts and the development industry and will conclude with questions to the government minister.