Over 5M UK Family Homes Lack Outdoor Spaces | RWinvest Skip to content

Over 5 Million UK Families Don’t Have Access to Outdoor or Nature Spaces

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    UK Children Continuing to Spend Less Time Outdoors

    New research published in Redrow’s annual community play report shows that 65% of grandparents and 61% of parents in the UK report that children continue to spend less time outside than they did growing up. Over 5 million parents say their children have no access to outdoor play or nature spaces within safe walking distance of their homes.

    The survey asked 2000 grandparents and parents of 4 to 17-year-olds about access to outdoor spaces. According to the results, two in five parents say that their child cannot play outside independently because there are no safe routes for walking or cycling.

    Rather than play outside, respondents said that their children and grandchildren are mostly watching TV (68%) and playing video games (53%).

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      Life after death, green sprout on the coals after the fire. Rebirth of nature after the fire. Rebirth concept

      So why is this an issue? Outdoor access is known to affect our well-being.

      According to Redrow’s survey, the majority of parents report a significant improvement in their child’s behaviour following a stint outdoors. They say they sleep better (47%), are less reliant on screens (37%), and are calmer (35%).

      Lack of outdoor play is also leading to concerns regarding mental health and personal development. Parents said they were worried children would lack a sense of adventure (40%), have poorer mental health (34%), and have increased social anxiety (28%).

      It’s not just children who can benefit from outdoor time. According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly 45% of people in the UK said that visiting green spaces such as parks helped them cope during the pandemic. Research shows that people with access to nature are usually happier and feel positive emotions such as calmness, joy, and creativity. Nature-connectedness is also associated with better mental health.

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      Property with Green Spaces Becoming Increasingly Desirable

      Brits are increasingly attracted to homes with access to green spaces. According to Redrow, one-third say they would be more interested in a new home with green spaces nearby. Two in five even admit that they are envious of people with green spaces near their residences.

      Access to green space is becoming increasingly important. This year, 50% of Brits called this feature a key attraction to a new home, up from 42% in 2023.

      With this in mind, many new-build housing developers are incorporating outdoor areas and green spaces into their projects. For example, Central Park, a new-build apartment complex in Liverpool, emphasises resident well-being with an outdoor gym, on-site gardens, and rooftop terraces, among other facilities. Funds were also contributed to support the local authority in refurbishing the adjacent public park, further enabling access to green spaces not just for the residents but also for the wider community.

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      Jessica Ferris

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      Jessica Ferris is a property writer at RWinvest, helping our readers stay ahead of property market trends with the latest news and statistics.

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