Page 24 - Redbrik Lifestyle & Property Magazine: Spring 2019

24
THE HIGH APPEAL OF
LOW-RISE LIVING
Bungalows were once one of
the most popular house types in Britain. But the one-storey home has declined dramatically in popularity in the last four decades as builders move to maximise the land they have by building up, not out, to provide a greater return. However, with bungalows now in short supply and an estimated half a million people aged over 55 stuck in larger homes because they cannot find suitable one-level accommodation, perhaps the time is right to reconsider the bungalow?
Bungalows were first built in the UK
in the mid-18th century, the style of home having been imported from India and derived from the word "bangla", meaning “belonging to Bengal”. Their construction heyday in the UK was the 1920s and 1930s when thousands were built at affordable prices. In 2017 only 2,600 bungalows were built nationwide, as developers struggle with planning regulations
for specialist housing and inflated building costs.
However, perhaps recognising the UK’s aging population, developers have started to wake up to the big potential of the humble bungalow.
“Its definitely worth viewing bungalows with an open mind
as, with a bit of creativity and vision, you can create a contemporary and practical home whilst getting good value for money.”
Peter Lee, Director at Redbrik New Homes, said: “We’ve definitely seen developers giving much more consideration to bungalows at the planning stage and demand from buyers has never been higher.
“New-build bungalows, such as our Jacques Orchard development of architect designed bungalows at South Normanton, offer a modern, open-plan design and high-quality
specification that is ideal for both downsizers and first-time buyers.
"In addition, the price of many of these new build bungalows makes them eligible for purchase using the government’s Help to Buy scheme, which means only a 5% deposit is required.”
As well as a number of new build options, existing bungalows regularly come to market with Redbrik and many offer great potential for improvement and extension.
Tracey Gurney, Sales Manager at Redbrik’s Crystal Peaks office agrees:
“There are quite a few bungalows amongst the housing stock in South East Sheffield and we see them coming to market fairly regularly. They are often ripe for renovation and frequently come with a large garden, making them ideal for extension into modern family homes.
“Its definitely worth viewing bungalows with an open mind as, with a bit of creativity and vision, you can create a contemporary and practical home whilst getting good value for money.”
Take a look at some of our current best buys.
1. Jacques Orchard Development, South Normanton
Jacques Orchard is a brand new, boutique development of 31 two-bedroom bungalows located at South Normanton. With a choice of six styles of home, all are designed by award-winning architects CODA Studios and feature an open plan design, luxurious kitchens, large picture windows, private gardens and car parking. The development has already proved popular, with prices from £115,000.
See www.redbrik.co.uk for details or call our New Homes Team on 0114 299 4144.
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BUNGALOWS