North Yorkshire homebuilders warn children of potential summer risks

As the summer holidays approach, Barratt and David Wilson Homes are encouraging children to stay away from building sites and urging families in North Yorkshire to choose safer places to play.

The leading developers are encouraging families to make use of local parks, playgrounds and leisure centres for fun, engaging activities that keep children safe and support their physical and mental development.

With the long summer break providing more free time, children naturally seek new adventures. However, Barratt and David Wilson Homes are warning that building sites are not suitable places to play because of dangers such as heavy machinery, uneven ground and other hazards.

Jo Ainsley, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes North East, said: “We fully support children playing and staying active where they live, but our message for the summer holidays is simply to be safe and avoid going near live building sites.

“Curiosity and adventure are important parts of a child’s development, but construction sites can be dangerous. We encourage children and families to use the public open spaces on our developments, as well as other safe local facilities, instead.”

To help parents and carers find suitable alternatives, Barratt and David Wilson Homes have recommended the following safe spaces:

1. Local parks and playgrounds: Children can enjoy traditional play activities or invent their own games in safe outdoor spaces. Many parks also have playground equipment designed for a range of ages.
2. Leisure centres: In addition to indoor and outdoor sports, some leisure centres host summer programmes and activities, providing supervised and structured environments for children and young people.
3. Walking and cycling routes: The locations of Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ communities in North Yorkshire are handpicked to ensure a selection of scenic routes are nearby, providing options for safe family outings and physical exercise.

Outdoor play has a wide range of health benefits for children. According to Action for Children, as little as 10 to 15 minutes outside can support children’s physical and mental development. Children should also aim to do 60 minutes of exercise per day, which could include running, climbing, skipping, jumping or kicking a ball at the park.

To find out more about the developers and the homes they are building across the county, visit the websites at Barratt Homes in North Yorkshire and David Wilson Homes in North Yorkshire.