that will see every future residential development deliver play spaces exceeding the minimum standards typically required through the planning system.
Developed in partnership with international play equipment specialist Kompan, untypical’s new Universal Play Guidance establishes a consistent design standard for inclusive play across the group’s developments. The move reflects the growing importance of high-quality public spaces in creating thriving communities, with inclusive play increasingly recognised as an essential part of successful placemaking.
The guidance sets a higher standard than the minimum requirements outlined in current Fields in Trust guidance, which many local planning authorities use when assessing play provision on new housing developments. For example, while current guidance allows a Local Area for Play (LAP) to contain no formal play equipment, untypical’s framework requires every equivalent space to include a minimum of two inclusive play features as standard.
The approach is being showcased in Woolpit, Suffolk, where untypical is delivering two flagship developments: The Elms by Hopkins Homes and Kiln Grove by Tilia Homes. Together, they demonstrate the group’s commitment to creating vibrant, family-friendly communities where high-quality, inclusive play is woven into the fabric of new neighbourhoods. As the first developments to champion the framework, they illustrate how thoughtful play design can enhance the everyday lives of residents while setting a new benchmark for future Hopkins Homes and Tilia Homes developments.
The framework establishes enhanced requirements at every level of provision, from Local Areas for Play (LAPs) through to Neighbourhood Equipped Areas for Play (NEAPs). Alongside play equipment, it covers accessible surfacing, sensory and quiet spaces, neurodiversity-informed design and facilities that support parents, grandparents and carers with mobility needs.
Graeme Smith, Group Innovation & Design Director at untypical, said:
“Planning guidance provides an important baseline, but we believe developers have an opportunity to go further.
“This framework gives our teams clear design principles that go beyond planning requirements, ensuring every development delivers play spaces that are welcoming and fully inclusive.”
Developed with Kompan, the framework draws on research from the company’s Play Institute, a specialist research facility dedicated to understanding how play environments support children’s physical, social and cognitive development. It is underpinned by the principle that inclusive play is most successful when accessibility is designed into spaces from the outset rather than added retrospectively. The guidance translates this research into practical design standards for residential developments.
The guidance also addresses neurodiversity in detail, setting out design principles for children with differing sensory needs. These include opportunities for high levels of stimulation for hyposensitive children alongside quieter peripheral spaces where hypersensitive children can engage with play at their own pace. It also recognises that successful play spaces should support everyone who uses them, incorporating seating, access and circulation designed to accommodate supervising adults with varying mobility needs while encouraging residents to spend more time together outdoors.
Ashleigh Thomson, Area Sales Manager at Kompan, said:
“Many residential play areas are still designed primarily around planning compliance and budget. What’s different here is that untypical has embedded inclusive design into every level of provision, considering not only the equipment, but how the entire space works for children, families and carers.
“It’s encouraging to see a housebuilder taking this approach, and we hope it helps demonstrate what can be achieved when inclusion is considered from the very beginning of the design process.”
Published as a living document, the Universal Play Guidance will be reviewed regularly to reflect emerging research, industry best practice and feedback from residents and users. It is available to download at www.untypical.co.uk/