Tag: Barratt Redrow

Barratt and David Wilson Homes take part in Edinburgh litter pick

Housebuilder proves spring cleaning isn’t just for the home

Volunteers from Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, part of the UK’s largest housebuilder Barratt Redrow, have dedicated their time to cleaning up in locations around Edinburgh.

The litter-pick formed part of the wider Barratt Redrow CleanUp, now in its third year, organised by the housebuilder’s charitable arm, The Barratt Redrow Foundation in partnership with CleanupUK.

A team of volunteers from Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland division set out to litter pick at West Craigs and Union Canal, which is popular with dog walkers, runners and families.

The team of 47 volunteers cleared nearly 100 bags of discarded waste, which included products that are known to be damaging to the environment and local wildlife and take a long time to break down, such as disposable vapes, wipes, batteries and cigarette butts.

The team sifted through greenery to remove waste, helping create a cleaner and safer environment for children, animals and tourists heading into the summer months.

Initiatives like this are important for amplifying the impact of litter-picking and community tidying efforts in the areas where the housebuilder operates and links closely to its ethos.

Barratt and David Wilson Homes are focused on building quality homes and creating vibrant new communities with open green spaces that enhance biodiversity and wellbeing, creating greener, healthier and more sustainable living environments for homeowners and wildlife alike.

Andrew Morrison, Managing Director for Barratt and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “In Scotland, we’re lucky to have such picturesque green spaces on our doorstep, so we all have a responsibility to ensure this landscape continues to thrive.

“As the UK’s largest housebuilder, we place great emphasis on leaving communities better than we found them, whether that’s by alleviating housing shortages, improving infrastructure or like in this instance, protecting the environment.

“Our employee volunteers did a great job clearing spots around Edinburgh which are enjoyed by residents across our West Craigs and West Craigs Quarter developments.”

CleanupUK, which helped with the organisation of the litter pick, is a nationwide charity that unites volunteers to form community-led litter picking initiatives in their local areas.

Edinburgh City Council provided the volunteers with the necessary equipment and will lead on disposing of the collected waste.

In total, over 60 clean-up events are taking place across the UK this spring, with hundreds of Barratt Redrow staff taking part.

To explore homes currently available in Edinburgh, visit Barratt @ West Craigs and David Wilson Homes West Craigs Quarter.

David Wilson Homes launches wildlife photography competition to celebrate Edinburgh’s natural beauty

David Wilson Homes, part of the UK’s largest housebuilder Barratt Redrow, is marking the change in season with a search in Edinburgh for vibrant wildlife and landscape photography that celebrates the beauty of autumn. 

The premium housebuilder, which has developments at Cammo Meadows and West Craigs Quarter, is inviting both seasoned and budding photographers to capture new imagery of Scotland’s local wildlife and natural surroundings.

From bundles of amber leaves draped across woodland paths to the golden light filtering through the branches, and wildlife preparing for winter, autumn in Scotland is one of the most beautiful times of the year. 

The new David Wilson Homes photography initiative launched on Thursday 9 October. It is designed to inspire local residents to pause and appreciate the natural beauty around them, while celebrating the diverse wildlife and nature that share their community.

Two runners-up and one overall winner will be selected from three areas across Scotland where David Wilson Homes builds communities, including in the North, East and West of Scotland.

Andrew Morrison, Managing Director at Barratt Homes and David Wilson Homes East Scotland, said: “Scotland is one of the most scenic places in the world and home to an incredible variety of wildlife.

“It’s easy to get swept up in the pace of daily life and forget to pause and appreciate the beauty of the natural world around.

“We share our communities with hundreds of species, from birds and insects to mammals, and just like David Wilson homeowners, this wildlife calls Edinburgh home too.

“This campaign is about celebrating the wildlife that lives alongside us and capturing those special moments when we connect with nature.

“You don’t need to be a professional photographer to take part. Whether you have a keen eye or simply a passion for nature, we’re inviting everyone to get involved.”

To enter photography please share your submissions to: 

barrattredrow@bigpartnership.co.uk 

along with the location where the image was captured by 19 November 2025.  

For more information please visit:

 www.dwh.co.uk/advice-and-inspiration/scottish-wildlife-photography-competition/

Local children with disabilities excluded from play due to inaccessible playgrounds

  • Across the UK, half of parents of children with physical disabilities surveyed say their child is excluded from play due to inaccessible playgrounds
  • As well as reducing friendships and confidence, parents are turning to screentime to fill the gap
  • To support parents and children, Scottish housebuilder Barratt and David Wilson Homes is committing to ensure every play area they create is inclusive and accessible

New research reveals children with disabilities are excluded from playgrounds in Scotland. Across the UK, half (50%) of parents of children with physical disabilities surveyed say their child is excluded from play due to playgrounds being inaccessible to them.

In Scotland, parents of children who visit playgrounds are travelling an average of 3.77 miles from their homes to reach a suitable play area. As a result, 32% say they are relying more on screens because there are not enough suitable outdoor play areas nearby.

The research of over 2,000 parents from across the UK, showed that exclusion from play is an issue for disabled and non-disabled children alike. Almost two thirds (65%) of UK parents surveyed say their children are playing out less than they did at the same age, with similar findings reported in Scotland (64%). 

Almost a quarter of parents in Scotland have struggled to find a playground that accommodates their child’s needs (23%), while others reported that their local playground is currently closed or out of order (36%).

Parents say the lack of play is negatively affecting their child’s ability to make friendships, build confidence and develop a sense of adventure, and shockingly over a third (37%) of children in Scotland now prefer to spend time playing indoors or on screens, creating barriers for children accessing outdoor play.

To get the nation playing out again, Barratt Redrow, of which Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland is a part, is making a landmark commitment to prioritise inclusive play spaces across its developments.

This new commitment will see the housebuilder incorporate inclusive and accessible play areas across their new developments in Scotland, working with children and young people to design play spaces that meet the needs of the local community where possible. As the UK’s largest housebuilder this could deliver up to 100 new accessible and inclusive play spaces for parents and children to enjoy each year.

David Thomas, CEO of Barratt Redrow, said: “This isn’t just about playgrounds, it’s about building places where families can truly thrive, and that starts by ensuring every child can safely and confidently enjoy the freedom, fun and benefits that outdoor play delivers.

“We want local authorities and other homebuilders to work together to make inclusive and accessible play the standard, not the exception. When we build with all children in mind, we can create places that work better for everyone.”

Alison Condie, Regional Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes Scotland, said: “Play isn’t a luxury, it’s something that inspires connection, confidence and childhood itself.

“This commitment will make a huge difference to parents and children in Scotland. We want parents and homebuyers to know that when they buy one of our homes, they can be confident that we’re prioritising the right things from day one.”

The New Commitments to Play

As the UK’s biggest housebuilder, Barratt Redrow is ensuring play for everybody is the standard, not the exception. In practice, its new Inclusive Play Guidance will mean communities in Scotland can expect:

1.     Every play space being designed by Barratt Redrow will include inclusive equipment, accessible surfaces and be located in safe and easy to access locations for the whole community to enjoy.

2.     Designs will allow for active, challenging, imaginative, sensory and quiet play for children and young people, while encouraging social interaction between neighbours and friends.

3.     Play spaces will be integrated into high quality landscapes at the heart of our developments, bringing people closer to nature.    

4.     Wherever possible, Barratt Redrow will work with children and young people to ensure they are continually responding to the needs of the local community.

*Our teams work on planning applications for a period of six months before submission, therefore the new commitment will apply to all new planning applications from January 2026 onwards.

As well as children’s charity Whizz Kidz, the Barratt Redrow Commitments and New Design Guidelines were created with support from industry bodies, including Play Wales, Play England, play expert Tim Gill and children’s psychologist Prof. Helen Dodd. 

For more information, visit www.barrattredrow.co.uk/playmaking