Wembley Park

Things to consider on your tour

How much landscaping is there and what is the quality of it? Do you think it is important for those living, working and visiting here?

Is this a safe place to walk around late at night?

Look at the different occupiers of the retail units. Are they local, or national covenants? Do they reflect the demographics of those who will be at Wembley Park?

Consider the heights of the buildings and cladding finishes. Do you believe this works well and will stand the test of time?

Consider the connectivity of Wembley Park to local communities and Central London.

Which areas of the estate still need to be redeveloped and what uses are they being put to at the moment? What does the masterplan state will be the final use of these areas?

What is the level of vehicular traffic in the estate itself?

Reflect on the public realm.

How does Wembley Park Estate compare and contrast to your group’s Great Estate?

Would you want to live and/or work here?

AND REMEMBER TO TAKE PHOTOS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR GROUP PRESENTATION AND SEND TO THE REAL ESTATE INSTAGRAM.

Background

Wembley Park is a new 85-acre estate, 11 miles northwest of Central London. Quintain purchased the land in 2002 and has been working closely with the London Borough of Brent to create an exciting new neighbourhood for London and the UK’s largest build to rent development. When complete it will provide 8,500 new homes of which a third will be affordable, a new 7-acre park and over 8,600 new jobs. This will truly be a 15 minute city. In addition Quintain continue to reduce operational energy and water consumption and has a committed ESG strategy.

Start at Wembley International Hotel

You are at the north-western edge of Wembley Park. Exit the car park through the barrier on the left-hand side and turn left into Palace Arts Way and proceed into the estate.

You will walk past Emerald Gardens and The Yellow Community Centre on your left. Continue walking along Exhibition Way, past Wembley Park Market.

At the end of the road, you will see the famous Wembley Stadium. Turn left into   Weaver Walk and continue to the end then turn right. You will see BOXPARK, a 20,000 square foot dedicated events space, offering an immersive food, drink and leisure experience.

Olympic Way

You are now on Olympic Way (also known as Wembley Way), which is always packed on match/concert days. Turn left and make your way to Wembley Park Tube station. Take the stairs or lift to the ticket hall and you will have a great view of Wembley Park estate to the north.

Wembley Park Tube Station

From the tube station proceed back up Olympic Way. You will note on your left a building being prepared for redevelopment. When do you think this was originally built? How sustainable is this?

At Fulton Road, turn left and head to the eastern edge of the estate which is pending redevelopment. Discuss why this area will be in the final phases of the redevelopment. You can now see the remnants of the estate before Quintain’s redevelopment ann what this whole area looked like and the predominant users over 20 years ago.

At 10 Watkin Way turn back on yourself. On your left is a large open area used by the construction contractors. In the masterplan this will form the northern end of Union Park, the first new park in the neighbourhood for 150 years.

At Rutherford Way turn left from Watkin Way and continue up the road. You will see the first of Unite Student Halls of Residence on the estate.

Canada Gardens

At the end of Rutherford Way, turn left into Engineers Way. Walk towards Canada Gardens, offering studios to 4 bed houses to rent. When you look up you will catch a glimpse of the 1-acre private resident’s garden with their own home working office sheds. You will note facilities for families including a nursery and playground. On your left is a temporary public car park which will eventually form part of Union Park.

Continue along Engineers Way until you reach the Citadines hotel, where again you will see where the old meets the new estate. Turn back on yourself and then turn left by Union Park ponds and fountains. Walk up here and the completed phase of Union Park will be on your right. Note the retail users to Canada Garden Buildings.

Continue until you reach a main road. You can turn left and head for the steps up to Wembley Stadium and then turn right, or right along the main road to the main entrance and lifts up. At the top, via the lifts, turn left.

Wembley Stadium

Home of English football and regarded as one of the most iconic stadiums in the World. The original stadium was demolished in 2003 and the new stadium opened in 2007 with a total construction cost of £798 million. It is owned by the governing body of English football, the Football Association (the FA). The seating capacity is 90,000. It is also acts as a concert venue to internationally renowned music stars.

As you go around you will see two statues. One celebrating a sport that may surprise you but linked to Wembley Stadium and the other statue is of Sir Bobby Moore, captain of England’s World Cup football winning squad in 1966.

Now make your way down to Olympic Way.

London Designer Outlet

Once back on Olympic Way turn left. Note on the hoardings to your right the estate’s visions set out, particularly regarding ESG. Turn left again up Wembley Park Boulevard towards the Hilton Hotel. Look again at the hoardings to understand the facilities available to residents. Continue past the Amazon Fresh store (with no checkouts!) along to the underpass. How has Quintain dealt with this otherwise uninviting area of public realm?

Turn back and enter the London Designer Centre on your left. Explore all three levels. How does the nature of user change and why between levels? Is this a standard shopping centre? Do you think the centre is doing well?

On the lower level follow the signs for SSE Arena. At the end of the pedestrianised area turn right onto Lakeside Way

SSE Wembley Arena

Walk alongside SSE Wembley Arena and spot the acts due to perform there. Originally built in 1934 it was used for 1948 London Olympics.

Look on your right at the large garage doors and make a note on how the estate is dealing with waste. At the end turn left past the front of the Grade 2 listed Wembley Arena.

Make your way back to Wembley International Hotel by turning left onto Engineers Way and then right at the main road past the back of Emerald Gardens.