Levelling up health and wellbeing

COMMENT The notion that health and wellbeing is intrinsically linked to the levelling-up agenda has grown in prominence over the past few years, with the global pandemic reinforcing the connection between human health and productivity. Central to this belief is the somewhat sobering fact that we spend some two-thirds of our lives at work. It therefore goes without saying that the extent to which we are able to lead happy, fulfilling and productive lives is directly influenced by the experiences we have while in the workplace. Gone are the days when people were welded to their desks. We live in a world where people want a more balanced life with the choice to go to the gym in their lunch break or take a break with a colleague to grab a coffee and have a walk. At Scarborough Group, we no longer simply provide a workplace; the design of the wider environment is front and centre of our decision-making. Across all of our developments we strive to provide green open spaces for relaxing and outdoor amenities that provide opportunities for physical activity and social networking. This level of amenity is necessary to match the level of freedom many have become accustomed to since the surge in hybrid working. Many have felt the benefits of being able to sit in the sunshine on a clear day, for example, or pop out for a walk between meetings. Businesses need to embrace this level of flexibility to ensure people find the workplace fulfilling and worthwhile. At Thorpe Park in Leeds for example, the 5,000-strong business community benefits from 150 acres of lush parkland which is connected to miles of cycle and running paths, centred around 350,000 sq ft of shops and a leisure centre. Middlewood Locks in Salford is equally as impressive, having created a walkable, canal-side neighbourhood where 20% of the 25-acre city centre mixed-use scheme has been given over to public realm. This is regularly used to host community events such as yoga classes and open-air movie theatres.  Not only do these interventions have the benefit of providing a calm, uplifting environment, it also supports positive mental health by reducing stress and anxiety which, in turn, improves cognitive function and stimulates creativity and productivity. Thinking big On a much larger scale, we have embarked on a mission at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park to help deliver a tangible legacy of whole-population improvements in health and wellbeing by creating a masterplan that seeks to bring together expertise from academia, elite sport, the NHS and public and private sector organisations. Already home to well-established sporting and academic facilities, such as the English Institute of Sport Sheffield, iceSheffield and the Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre, the vision for Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park is to build upon the benefits brought by these exceptional facilities to develop a diverse and active life sciences park focused on health, wellbeing, sports and activity, accessible by all. Among the next wave of occupiers to have a presence on the park is Sheffield Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which has recently benefited from the government’s Levelling-Up Fund to deliver the National Centre for Child Health Technology; a groundbreaking facility that will deliver the world’s most advanced integrated healthcare system for children. Canon Medical Systems Europe has also recently started on site with its Park Community Arena, which will become the UK’s first affordable net zero carbon-built sports, healthcare and community arena featuring an integrated medical diagnostic centre. At Scarborough Group, our focus is on creating thriving places that foster healthy and sustainable communities. We look beyond the scope of the community that can be created within a building to the community that can be created by developing a vibrant, mixed-use environment that brings together the best of both personal and professional worlds. As well as creating the homes and workplaces that are needed to support our lifestyles today, we ensure those who interact with our schemes have access to public transport and green open spaces, a variety of retail and leisure amenities and, importantly, feel a sense of connection to their surroundings. After all, happy, healthy and well-cared for employees will ultimately have a positive impact on business health. Simon McCabe is chief executive of Scarborough Group International Image © Scarborough Group