The new Children’s Plan outlined this week by Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, includes investing £225m in playgrounds and a further £160m to improving the quality and range of things for young people to do.

The plan, described as “a step-change in the way parents and families are supported to deal with the new challenges faced by young people in the 21st century” has been designed to respond directly to concerns raised by parents and children.

The government was told that one of the most important things it could do was invest in activities, facilities and parks for children and young people.

Consequently, funding has been allocated to create or upgrade more than 3,500 playgrounds over the next three years and to build 30 new supervised adventure playgrounds for 8- to 13-year-olds set up in deprived communities.

Improvements in facilities for older children could see 50 new youth centres built, 500 refurbished, or 2,000 smaller scale centres or mobile units introduced, offering a range of activities such as sport, music, drama and art. Balls states in the plan: “All children, no matter where they live or their background, will have opportunities to get involved in high quality cultural activities in and out of school.”

Local authorities will also be targeted to implement planning changes. “We want to move away from the ‘No Ball Games’ culture of the past so that public spaces in residential areas are more child friendly,” it says in the plan. Guidance will be issued to local authorities to help them prioritise ‘a world designed for the needs of young people’ – such as encouraging the introduction of more 20mph speed limit zones, particularly around play parks.

Further elements of the Children’s Plan include free childcare for disadvantaged families and a raft of reviews to help parents take a more active role in their children’s education.

“Our aim is to make this country the best place in the world for our children and young people to grow up,” said Balls.

“For most children, 2007 is a great time to be a child. Most children are happy, most are achieving to a higher level than ever before, enjoying better health, more opportunities to travel, to engage in sport or cultural activities than was the case for any previous generation.

“We also need to recognise that the world is changing rapidly, presenting new and exciting opportunities, but also risks and challenges, and it is hard for families to strike the right balance.

“Over the next ten years I believe this plan will herald a radical change in the range of positive activities for our young people and a revolution in the way parents are involved in their child’s education.”