Single level living offers multiple advantages - bringing back the british bungalow
Bungalows have an enduring, and increasing popularity among house-hunters, with around 60% of buyers over the age of 65 hoping to opt for a single storey house. Many end up disappointed, however, as demand for this style of home constantly outstrips supply, with only around 2% of new homes being built as bungalows.
Proof of this popularity can be seen at The Grove by Dandara in Buckinghamshire, where the housebuilder has experienced high demand for its exclusive range of bungalows, as part of its wider development of family homes.
Simon Pendlebury, Sales and Marketing Director at Dandara, Northern Home Counties, says: “There are many reasons why bungalows are a popular option – in essence they combine the advantages of both houses and apartments in one neat package: everything is conveniently on one level which will appeal to older buyers, but a bungalow has the added benefit of much more privacy and outdoor space than an apartment, with no worries about communal areas. ”
Dandara has included a range of two-bedroom bungalows exclusively for the over 55’s in its development at The Grove, in the village of Haddenham, near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire. The Holly house type has an open-plan kitchen/dining/living room with French doors to the rear garden, fitted wardrobes in the master bedroom and a family bathroom. The Lime also includes a utility room, an en suite to the master bedroom and a Jack and Jill shower room. All have allocated parking and turfed gardens.
Bungalows can be much more easily future-proofed than any other type of home, and so are the perfect purchase for downsizers whose children have flown the nest. Energy bills will also almost certainly be lower, as a single storey home is more efficient to heat, or to cool in hot summers, than two floors.
Simon Pendlebury adds: “Being on the ground floor is also a huge bonus when it comes to routine maintenance – cleaning windows, clearing guttering and painting soffits are all far easier.”
With bungalows being so desirable, it’s disappointing for buyers that planning authorities over recent years have tended to artificially restrict supply by insisting on very high housing densities. Thankfully, developers are now beginning once again to include single-storey homes in new developments, sometimes earmarking them for those who would benefit from them the most – the over 55s.
The bungalows at The Grove by Dandara are ideally located in Haddenham, a picturesque village with a wealth of artisan shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants. There are an abundance of walks to enjoy in the surrounding Buckinghamshire countryside with splendid views of the Chiltern Hills, while for those still needing to commute, Haddenham and Thame Parkway railway station is a 15-minute walk away, offering Chiltern Mainline services to Oxford in less than half an hour and London Marylebone in 46 minutes.
The Grove, Haddenham
Located in the picturesque village of Haddenham in Buckinghamshire, The Grove is a stunning collection of 2 bedroom bungalows and 2, 3 and 4 bedroom homes.
The Grove