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The Rise of the Bungalow

Posted 26 March 2020 by Keith Osborne

New build bungalows are a popular house type for a whole range of buyers, and here we present a few current examples...

The days of the bungalow once seemed numbered. Just a couple of years ago, only 2% of new homes being built were single-storey houses, compared with 1987, when 15% of new homes were bungalows.

The outlook was that property developers would be reluctant to build more because they would make more money from a two- or three-floor home on the same plot of land. But recent surveys have indicated that there is wider interest in living in such a property than many of us may have assumed.

David Fleming, regional director at LSL Land & New Homes, said: “Bungalows are often perceived as being just for the elderly or those in need of an accessible home, however, they can also be a great option for those looking to upsize or to use their space more efficiently. Lateral living is a trend that has continued to increase in popularity over the last few years, as it offers buyers a more flexible layout and consequently great value for money.”

‘Lateral living’ is a phrase often used today by those marketing homes set over one level but there’s more to it than what might be seen as a passing property fashion.

Chris Hamilton, managing director for Martin Grant Homes, commented: "Bungalows can be an attractive option for buyers looking for an accessible home, offering a more manageable living arrangement, particularly for those who may have reduced mobility or require everything to be on one level. The alternative – such as an apartment – sometimes just isn't practical for a number of reasons.”

Here are just a few examples new build bungalows available to buy...

Hayfield Green

Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire: Currently holding the title of Best Small Housebuilder in Britain, Hayfield has opened the two-bedroom, two-bathroom ‘Cotheridge’ bungalow as a fully furnished show home at Hayfield Green. Each example of this house type at this development has underfloor heating, high ceilings, private garden, electric garage doors and parking for up to six cars. There’s a current offer to give purchasers £2,000 towards their moving costs. The company is also building bungalows at Hayfield Grange in Southam, which will be ready to move into this summer.

Philip and ZoeZoe and Philip downsized from their old three-bedroom semi-detached to a two-bedroom ‘Buckfastleigh’ bungalow at Corinthian Place in Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex. Philip is a wheelchair user and the layout and accessibility of every room in their new home have been key to his quality of life.

Swanland Heights

North Ferriby, East Riding of Yorkshire: Currently available from Redrow, the ‘Hadleigh’ at £284,950 is one of four bungalows being built at Swanland Heights. With Arts & Crafts-inspired architectural design, this is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom home with en suite master bedroom, open-plan kitchen/dining/living room with patio doors out on to the garden. It comes with an attached single garage.

Stanford Meadow

Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire: There are three bungalow property types at the Stanford Meadow development from Lagan Homes, including the two-bedroom ‘Ardmore’, with its attractive styling in render/brick/stone/weatherboarding and a large, feature window to its living room. It has a master bedroom with fitted wardrobe, en suite shower room and double doors to the rear garden. This property comes with a garage and off-street parking.

Mrs Trudy Unwin said: “I have lived in Southam for 43 years, since we got married. We have both recently retired and when we decided to move house [to Hayfield Grange]. It’s so rare to see bungalows on the market around here. We can’t wait to move in and enjoy having no stairs and the pleasant outlook we’ll have out into the garden and the green open space.”

Cherry Orchard

Bevere, Worcestershire: The are 12 bungalows at the 128-home Cherry Orchard development from Bellway, eight of which have two bedrooms and four have three. ‘The Hartley’ is priced from £377,500. This double-fronted property is one of the two-bedroom properties and come with an en suite master bedroom, an open-plan kitchen/dining room and a separate lounge with attractive bay window. Opening soon is a professionally decorated and fitted ‘Hartley’ show home. Marie Richards, regional sales director, said: “They’re great for seniors, great for people with mobility limitations, and they’re also small-child-friendly.”

Henderson Park

Thorpe-le-Soken, Essex: Bellway is building 98 homes at Henderson Park, of which 20% are bungalows – nine two-bedroom designs and 13 three-bedroom designs, priced from £289,995 and £339,995 respectively. Sales director Jenny Walker, said: “While bungalows are traditionally popular with older people looking to downsize and future proof their lives, we’re also seeing inquiries from younger buyers who find single-storey living appealing. The first owners of these house types are expected move this summer.

Milbank

Welford-on-Avon, Warwickshire: At Spitfire Bespoke Homes’ Milbank development, Plot 9, ‘Pebworth House’, is a high-specification, luxury bungalow with three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Priced at £975,000, it comes with a pitched roof, double height apex glazing and a combination of brick and rendered façade. The living room, family room and master bedroom all have a vaulted ceiling, there’s an open-plan kitchen/dining/family room, handy utility room and study. It also has a double garage. The housebuilder has a two-bedroom bungalow in nearby Snitterfield priced at £775,000.

Meg Dixon and partner Tim Wadeson, both musicians, purchased a three-bedroom bungalow at Shepherds Walk in the village of North Leigh, Oxfordshire. They bought off-plan and moved in last November. Meg said: “I love bungalows, I just think they’re great and they’re rare – they also typically have wider corridors and more room for personalisation.” 

Shawbrook Manor

Leyland, Lancashire: At the Shawbrook Manor development, house-hunters are welcome to look ahead and enquire about new bungalows that will be coming in the next phase, to be released by Lovell Homes in 2021. One type is the two-bedroom ‘Hemmington’ which will be available from £194,950. Both bedrooms are at the front (one comes with en suite shower room), there’s a family bathroom while at the rear are the kitchen/dining room and the lounge, which has French doors to the rear garden. Another option for buyers here will be the three-bedroom ‘Mossley’, which has a very similar floorplan but comes with an en suite master bedroom built into the roof. This is priced from £249,950.

Verwood

Verwood, Dorset: There’s a village setting for Potters Wood from Pennyfarthing Homes, where the ‘Riverdale’ is a spacious three-bedroom detached bungalow with integral garage. There’s a spacious living room, separate fully fitted kitchen and dining room, generous sized garden and a pretty bay window looking out over the front garden. This house type costs from £420,000.

Michael and DeniseAfter 22 years living in the area, Denise and Michael downsized to a bungalow at Alexandra Meadows in Lymington, Hampshire. Denise explained: “A freehold bungalow was the only option and through our initial online research, we were delighted to find that developers were still building this type of home, albeit few and far between. We couldn’t believe our luck.”

The Grove

Haddenham, Buckinghamshire: Available exclusively to over-55s is ‘The Lime’ at The Grove, a Dandara development which is already two-thirds sold out. This property type has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room with French doors to the garden, which features a shed. There a separate utility room, master bedroom with en suite and fitted wardrobe and a second bedroom. It’s currently priced £495,000.

Manor Farm

Bardney, Lincolnshire: Chestnut Homes has recognised the popularity of bungalows – 10% of the homes at its Manor Farm development are single-storey. There are two different types: the two-bedroom ‘Moorcroft’ is priced at £210,950 and the three-bedroom ‘Winstone’ (pictured) is £269,950. Both come with a garage and parking. Sales manager Helene Key said: “The interest we’ve seen in the bungalows at Manor Farm reflects the fact that Lincolnshire needs single-storey homes, especially as they are continuing to be so popular with house-hunters aged 65 and over, as well as first-time buyers and young families.”

Hawthorn Grove

Appleton Thorn, Cheshire: Hawthorn Grove, from Bloor Homes, is now 80% sold but among the homes still for sale are two types of bungalow. There’s one of the two-bedroom ‘The Billington’, which is priced at £349,995 including £6,000 of enhanced specification, and three of the double-fronted ‘The Blake’ (pictured), starting at £399,995, which includes £16,000 of enhanced specification. There are three double bedrooms, and a kitchen/dining room with separate lounge. 

 

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