Government launches survey on protections for public recreational green spaces

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has launched a survey to gather evidence for its review of the legislative protections that apply to public recreational green spaces. The survey is aimed at those with experience of managing, using, advising on, protecting, planning for or developing parks, playing fields and other public recreational green spaces.

The review seeks to improve understanding of how existing legislative protections operate in practice. According to MHCLG, the current framework has developed over time. It can be complex, with protections spread across different legislation and interacting with planning, land ownership, local authority processes and community rights.

The survey will gather evidence to help identify how protections are applied, how effective and accessible they are, and whether there are areas of complexity, ambiguity, overlap or gaps that require further consideration. The findings will be considered alongside other evidence, including legislative mapping and further stakeholder engagement.

Please complete the form by 13 September 2026. For more information about the review, please contact [email protected].