Give Kids Planning Role

Scotland’s children should help build the future of the country, by contributing to planning and architecture. The call has been made by Children in Scotland, the national agency for organisations and professionals working with and for children, young people and their families. It claims children must be involved in the planning and design process from the outset so that the country’s built environment meets their needs. It maintains all children – “even the youngest” – have views which under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child they have the right to express “and be given due weight.

The agency, representing more than 400 families, has made its plea in a response to a Scottish Executive consultation exercise. Some Scots architects have however urged caution over the proposals.

The Executive’s policy on architecture, published five years ago, set out 40 government commitments intended to raise awareness of the value of good building design. It also aimed to bring about improvements in the quality of its buildings and built environments.The policy is subject to periodic review and the public consultation was designed to receive views on the progress made and also on how the challenges ahead could be tackled.

Children in Scotland said in recent years the executive had demonstrated a commitment to the importance of architecture for children, both in terms of buildings and spaces for them and the recognition of their extensive use of public spaces. It said it wanted to see this commitment further reflected in the “Policy on Architecture for Scotland” document out for consultation.