For homebuilders targeting family property purchasers with young children, the addition of a play area to a new housing development can be a contentious issue.
Make the right decision and a developer can create a high quality, attractive and stimulating play facility that children enjoy and that fosters community spirit. Not to mention a competitive edge over rivals trying to attract the same family homebuyers. Make a poor choice and you take the risk of installing a poorly designed playground with sub-standard equipment that children and the local community will soon reject and could attract anti social behaviour.
The Association of Play Industries (API) is the leading trade body for the UK play industries, and represents manufacturers, installers, designers and distributors of outdoor and indoor play equipment and safety surfacing. Its member companies are experts in play design, operate to the highest standards, abide by a strict Professional Code of Conduct and are credit-checked and monitored regularly for financial stability and security. They install high-quality play equipment using certificated products. Wherever the API ‘current member’ badge appears, expert advice from a reputable, experienced company – on design, equipment, materials, safety surfacing, inspection, maintenance and repair – is guaranteed.
A growing market
The homebuilding industry has become a growing market for API member companies, with one of the biggest operators citing a doubling of its trade in this sector between 2010 and 2014. However, some homebuilders are yet to appreciate the value of play to new developments and perceived costs, liability for maintenance, the fear of complaints about vandalism, noise or anti-social behaviour have created barriers to installing play areas.
API Chair Michael Hoenigmann explained:
“Where play is concerned, it can be tempting to compromise, and our members know from experience that some homebuilders make poor provision for play for a variety of reasons, including meeting planning requirements at minimal cost. Some are tempted by cut-price options but cheap comes at a cost. That usually means poor design, poor quality and poor play value, often with materials that don’t match the development style or surrounding area. Great play areas are an investment and provide a valuable asset for the local community. High quality play equipment with strong play value is much more likely to be respected and looked after, with less chance of vandalism.”
Creating attractive and exciting open spaces
Some of the most forward-thinking homebuilders are beginning to recognise the value of play to sell new properties. Gallagher Estates has invested in a high-specification playground for its Wixams Super-local equipped area for play (LEAP) development in Bedford.
Associate Construction Director at Gallagher Estates, Mukesh Ladwa, explained:
“The first houses to sell on the development overlooked the play area.”
Jon Golby of Golby + Luck Landscape Architects Ltd. says:
“The integrated approach of landscape and play area design can create attractive, exciting open spaces in new housing developments. Clients are sometimes concerned about the impact of play areas on sales and house prices, but if embraced properly from a scheme’s outset, areas can be accommodated successfully, creating high quality spaces where people want to live. In our experience, leaving it until the end of the job often results in poor integration and increased costs.”
Not surprisingly, social housing developers are leading the way when it comes to play. Often a play provider is brought on board by a housing association, local authority or developer to design a solution that addresses a particular social problem. One solution for a community affected by a high incidence of health problems can be met with the installation of adult outdoor gym equipment, along with a children’s playground, to encourage parents and families to increase their physical activity levels. In existing housing developments where recreation space is limited, the installation of rooftop play areas can also be an option.
Working with reputable experts
While association members understand the design requirements for LAPs (local areas for play), LEAPs and NEAPs (neighbourhood equipped areas for play), they also understand how children play and can advise homebuilders on the most appropriate design solutions for a housing development. Many members employ their own landscape architects and have excellent working relationships with local authorities throughout the UK.
A play area that is well planned, designed, integrated and maintained, with top quality equipment is a great way to attract family homebuyers. It is therefore essential that homebuilders use an API member company, to ensure they are working with a reputable, expert play company that they can trust.