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Devon play streets

A play street is a temporary road closure* organised by residents to allow children to play freely in their street.

They are a great way to get children outdoors and active while enabling both adults and children to come together and make new friends in the local community. Play streets can help make your street feel safer and more friendly.

Visit the Playing Out website to find out more about play streets and its positive impact on our children’s health and our local community.

*Access is still available for local residents

Play streets in Devon – trialled in Exeter and Cranbrook

If you live in Exeter or Cranbrook, you can now apply to have a play street.

Play streets in Exeter and Cranbrook are being trialled as part of the Live and Move Programme. The approach to play streets will then be reviewed with the hope to roll play streets out to communities across Devon.

In Exeter and Cranbrook, you will initially be allowed to organise a play street once a month, for up to three hours at a time. You can apply for up to 12 sessions per application. Find out more about what is involved in running a play street.

Inspired to organise your own play street? You can find instructions on how to apply for a play street below.

Play streets outside of Exeter and Cranbrook

At this time, Devon County Council cannot support play streets outside of Exeter and Cranbrook. If additional funding becomes available, this can be reviewed.

Although it would not provide a basis for a play street on a regular basis, you might want to consider applying for a special event instead. Please visit our special event webpage for more information.

How to apply for a play street

If you live in Exeter or Cranbrook, you can apply for a play street by following the steps below:

Read our Devon Play streets – how to guide

Our Devon Play streets – how to guide takes you through all the steps to successfully organise and run a play street.

Complete our Devon play streets quiz

This quiz has been developed to ensure the safety of all those involved and impacted by your Play Street. The quiz can be accessed at devon.cc/playstreetsquiz.

Completing the quiz will require you to read this page, our Play streets – how to guide and watch four short videos. The whole process of reading the documents, watching the videos and completing the quiz approximately takes 45 minutes.

Please note:

To be able to apply, two lead organisers will need to have completed the quiz. Please make sure that these are the people named as Organiser 1 and Organiser 2 on your application form.
Everyone involved in volunteering or stewarding the play street session must have completed the play streets quiz before the day of their first session.

Apply for your play street session(s)

Complete the play streets application pack and email the completed form together with the supporting documents (please see our Play streets – how to guide) to highwayapps@devon.gov.uk.

Printed application forms and supporting documents can be sent to:

Devon County Council – Highways Services Team
Great Moor House
Bittern Road
Sowton
Exeter
EX2 7NL

Please note: Play streets require a legal road closure which can take up to three months. You should submit your application form and supporting documents to DCC at least 3 months before your first scheduled play street session.

Once all of the requested information has been submitted, a member of the team will contact you to discuss your application and next steps.

With any questions relating to your play streets application, please email highwayapps@devon.gov.uk.

If your application is successful – enjoy your play street session(s)!

Please see our Play streets – how to guide how to get ready during the lead up to the sessions and ensure your play street is enjoyable and safe for all involved.

You can also find useful resources on the Playing Out website.

Supporting documents for your application

Please use the documents below to apply and organise your play street:

Questions

If you have any questions about your play streets application, please email highwayapps@devon.gov.uk.

With any other questions about play streets in Devon, please email us at playstreets@devon.gov.uk