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Access to outdoor space has never been so important. Even before the pandemic, research from the European Centre for Environment and Human Health had shown that living in an urban area with green spaces has a long-lasting, positive impact on mental wellbeing and that outdoor exercise leads to an estimated £2.2bn of health benefits for adults in England every year, according to the University of Exeter.

Now, as we look forward to coming out lockdown, green space has never been more sought after. Yet one in eight households in Great Britain – and one in five in London – has no access to a garden, either private or shared, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Image: Chris Winter

Thankfully, this is something that newly built homes are increasingly seeking to address. In Wembley Park, award-winning management company Quintain Living, which oversees the rental of more than 2,500 apartments, is championing the importance of green spaces in urban settings. The company’s Montana and Dakota buildings boast an acre of private residential gardens, while its Alto apartments include a private mezzanine terrace with lawns and water features.

Image: Chris Winter

The crowning jewel in terms of urban green space is Quintain Living’s Canada Gardens. The stylish, contemporary homes are nestled within an acre of private resident gardens, with abundant greenery on offer in the heart of this vibrant urban setting.

The proactive approach to social space at Canada Gardens means that residents have access to hireable allotments, designer work-from-home garden sheds and a pirate ship themed children’s play area and water feature. The one-acre private podium garden is awash with garden-party design features like outdoor kitchen entertainment spaces and BBQs as well as a children’s play hut. There’s even a pet park for those who rent with their furry friends, as well as an enormous roof terrace providing incredible 360° views of the City, the Chilterns and the iconic Wembley Stadium arch.

Roof terrace. Nice!

In addition to the extensive outdoor space already available, Canada Gardens residents are set to benefit from a seven-acre park that will be opening this year – a portion of which is already available to enjoy, with outdoor exercise equipment and water features.

Image: Chris Winter

This last point – the inclusion of an abundance of trees along the boulevards that crisscross Wembley Park – is one that is now being embraced more widely across the country. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has proposed that all new streets be lined with trees, as part of new plans to create more attractive neighbourhoods that enhance biodiversity and improve access to nature. The proposals have won the backing of 22 local areas so far and support the government’s commitment to plant 30 million trees by 2025.

Image: Chris Winter

Danielle Bayless, Chief Operating Officer, Quintain Living, comments, “The commitment to greenery is in evidence across the whole of Wembley Park. The 7-acre park will be a wonderful addition to the local neighbourhood and outside space forms an important part of each building that we design. We’ve even ensured that the boulevards across the wider site are lined with trees, a planting strategy that Quintain has won awards for, so that residents can enjoy greenery with their morning coffee or walk to work.”

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