Quintain a step ahead with The Olympic Steps

Image: Quintain

London (UK)-based Quintain – the third largest residential developer in Ireland – has unveiled The Olympic Steps, the latest milestone at the developer’s ambitious 85-acre Wembley Park – one of London’s most exciting new neighborhoods as well as one of Europe’s largest and most all-embracing urban regeneration projects. The Olympic Steps, which comprise 48 individual granite steps, are named after the 1948 Summer Olympics, held at the Empire Stadium (the original Wembley Stadium) in Wembley Park, and provide a fitting new entrance to the National Stadium.

Quintain is the award-winning development and asset management team behind Wembley Park. The third largest residential developer in Ireland boasts 9,000 homes in the pipeline across 460 acres of prime development land. During its 28-year history, Quintain has transformed assets into places where people want to live, companies want to grow and neighborhoods can come alive.

Quintain has the unique opportunity to build 8,500 homes at Wembley Park, one-third of which are to be affordable. A residential-led mixed-use 85-acre estate on track to be the single largest site of Build to Rent in the United Kingdom.

To date, Quintain has built 4,320 homes, with many more under construction and outline consent for a total of 8,500 at Wembley Park. Currently 2,415 homes are under Quintain Living’s management, however, by the end of 2021 this number will have increased to 3,255.

‘Quintain’ stated that with a width of 40m, The Olympic Steps have liberated over 12,150 sqm of new public space at the ground level – an area bigger than the 12,500-capacity The SSE Arena in Wembley, London or the football pitch inside the 90,000-capacity Wembley Stadium itself in London (7,245 sqm). The new Olympic Landing at the top of the steps, with its 36 circular pavement lights, has created a 1,275 sqm elevated piazza with spectacular views overlooking the surrounding area. This is matched by a 1,275 sqm sheltered undercroft, bathed in daylight, from the 36 roof panels above.

Apart from the steps, Quintain has also built four new high-capacity lifts to enable disabled access into Wembley Stadium and has upgraded the entire Olympic Way, known to football fans as ‘Wembley Way’ in time for the European Championships in June.

‘Quintain’ further stated that sitting next to the world-famous National Stadium, Wembley Park has over the last decade been transformed by Quintain from an event-day destination into a 365-day creative residential neighborhood for London. The multibillion pound, mixed-use transformation which has already delivered new homes, new retail, new offices and significant public realm, will see 20,000 residents live in Wembley Park by 2027 in 8,500 new homes as well as 46,000 sqm of retail and leisure space.

The Wembley Stadium (London) is owned by the governing body of English football, the Football Association (the FA), whose headquarters are in the stadium, through its subsidiary Wembley National Stadium Limited (WNSL). With 90,000 seats, it is the largest stadium in the United Kingdom and the second-largest stadium in Europe.

James Saunders, Chief Executive of Quintain, affirmed, “A fitting entrance to the National Stadium, the Olympic Steps mark a new chapter in the evolution of Wembley Park, replacing the old pedway – a concrete pedestrian ramp built in the 1970s to span a coach park that no longer exists. This elegant new public space celebrates Wembley Park’s history, embraces its future and will be a welcome new space for the residents of Wembley Park and the millions more who will visit the neighborhood to work, shop and play. As we look to a post-pandemic future, it’s more important than ever that developers like Quintain give space back to the people who call our neighborhoods home. The Olympic Steps, as well as the wider transformation of Wembley Park, is doing just that. I look forward to people using the steps, sitting on them and taking in the sights from the spectacular landing.”

Delivering on a long-term strategy and working in concert with the Brent Council, who have co-funded this project, the Olympic Steps complete Quintain’s major transformation of Olympic Way, which has included repaving, a 50 percent widening, programable lighting, ceremonial banners, a curated retail offering, and an award-winning tree planting strategy.

Liam Boylan, Stadium Director of Wembley Stadium, exulted, “We are delighted to have worked closely with Quintain and the Brent Council on the transformation of the entrance to our iconic venue. The Olympic Steps and surrounding public space provide a distinctive and inviting approach to Wembley Stadium, while four new lift shafts ensure that our venue remains fully accessible. These plans are more than a decade in the making, and we’re so pleased with the outcome. We’re looking forward to being able to welcome fans back to Wembley Park to experience and enjoy the Olympic Steps themselves in the near future.”

The Olympic Steps are being unveiled as retail and leisure reopens across Wembley Park, with highlights including the reopening of Boxpark, a newly upsized and redesigned Adidas store in London Designer Outlet, a new Fuller’s pub and the recent opening of Amazon Fresh on Wembley Park Boulevard.

A stone’s throw away from Central London, Wembley Park can be easily reached by three underground lines, two train lines, eight bus routes plus has over 3,000 car parking spaces. Projected to reach over 20 million visitors a year, Wembley Park’s annual retail spend is expected to place it ahead of London districts such as Camden, Victoria and Ealing Broadway.

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