Why the pandemic could have a beneficial effect on housing design

Mallard Homes was part way through building a small housing development in the pretty village of Ravensworth, near Richmond, when managing director Paul White called for a volte face.

Prompted by the rapidly changing wants and needs of would-be buyers due to the pandemic, he altered the layout of the two properties his team was working on so he could create space and amenities for home working. The detached houses on the Holmedale development now have dedicated offices, along with 1GB fibre broadband.

Paul’s change of heart is a sign of the impact Covid 19 is having on the design of new homes. He says: “One of the main reception rooms was big enough to have a party in so it made sense to use some of that space as a small office/study on the ground floor. Following the challenges of the last six months, we are seeing a significant shift in people’s needs and desires for their homes and lifestyles and an office is something buyers are looking for.”

Paul also gave plenty of thought to the practicalities of home working and rather than install sockets and internet points at skirting level, he raised them up to desk height before reconsidering the connectivity. “We were planning to have normal BT copper line broadband to the site but decided to spend more and have fibre broadband installed instead because it is much faster and a guaranteed 1GB, which means there should be no issues working from home.”

Going the extra mile has paid off thanks to a rise in those wanting to move to the Yorkshire countryside. “Our homes now meet the needs of today’s homebuyers, including younger, tech-savvy people who are abandoning built-up environments in favour of more space and greenery. Everyone has been really impressed with the home office and broadband speed. They have turned out to be great selling points,” says Paul.

Another selling point for the six properties at Holmedale, which range from £369,500 to £755,000 with one affordable house for eligible local people at £270,000, is the use of air source heat pumps as an alternative to oil-fired heating and the option of solar panels for those who buy off plan.

“We want our developments to be sustainable and so we swallow the extra costs of renewables but I think more developers would use green technologies if there was a government incentive like there is for individuals,” says Paul, who adds that his build has attracted a lot of interest from the South.

Sue Allison from Marcus Alderson estate agents in Richmond, which is marketing the properties in Ravensworth, says a flight to the country is in full swing now that some employees can now work from home full or part-time.

“We have had a lot of interest from buyers in cities who want open space, bigger gardens and more for their money,” she says.

Yorkshire Post columnist Ric Blenkharn of Bramhall Blenkharn Architects in Malton says the pandemic has to be seen as an opportunity for significant change to the way we live and the way we build homes. He says: “Undoubtedly, we have had lots of enquiries from people wanting to make an office at home, and the majority of our work is for clients wanting to leave the city to find a new rural life with open space.”

“I also think that we will see more flexible housing with dedicated space for home working. I would like to think that outdoor space will also have greater significance for developers, either as private or as shared communal space.”

He adds that heightened interest in country living after the full lockdown is a positive trend: “The idea of people repopulating rural areas has to be a good thing, providing it is linked to good broadband connectivity. It would mean that schools, pubs and shops can have a viable future.

“It’s certainly intriguing to see how our local shops flourished and adapted through lockdown. The social and economic benefits for the rural community could be significant.

“Hopefully, further new development in rural areas will be encouraged. This is currently thwarted by planning policy which focuses too much on existing towns and cities. The flip side is the demise of the city-based office, which is a major problem to solve. I suppose the long-term here is to get people back to living in cities, but with property at affordable prices.”

The caveat is that long-term, joined-up thinking is vital and Ric adds: “This is something the majority of our politicians seem incapable of.”

New research commissioned by the Royal Institute of British Architects highlights that a quarter of people believe a better-designed home will increase their happiness. It also supports Paul White’s anecdotal evidence that UK homeowners are increasingly demanding environmentally efficient properties.

For details on Mallard Homes' Ravensworth development contact www.marcusalderson.co.uk

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