Live to work? Work to live?

The live/work unit is viewed by the Government as playing an important role in creating sustainable communities, reducing the need to travel by car, aiding the development of small businesses and providing local investment. For example, Chase Homes is one of the few developers to have brought this concept to Birmingham with ‘Viva’, a development of 141 apartments and five live work units.

The developer’s scheme also demonstrates that live/work is a much more sophisticated concept than simply a ‘flat above a shop’ and is proving popular with businesses who like the idea of being able to easily ‘pop downstairs to the office’.

Three of the five live/work units have already been bought by growing businesses wanting to take advantage of the versatile space on offer. Their location – in a regenerated area of Birmingham, right behind the Mailbox - also appeals and provides the ideal shop window from which to operate.

The live/work units are duplex in style, with the workspace arranged on the ground floor and the living accommodation on the first floor. They include two-bedrooms, a bathroom, en-suite and living/dining/kitchen area.

The units are available from £360,000. The showhome is open seven days a week.

Viva - Case study

One of the ‘Viva’ live/work units is now occupied by ‘The Spires’, a company that provides serviced suites to tourists and business travellers who prefer the flexibility offered by an apartment to the seemingly restricted space of a hotel room.

Margaret Beattie established ‘The Spires’ 12 years ago. With two businesses in Scotland she wanted to branch into another major UK City. When she heard about Chase Homes’ ‘Viva’ development in Birmingham, she bought 23 of the apartments (for use as serviced suites) and one of the live work units.

Margaret now operates the Birmingham office entirely from the live/work unit together with her manager Ian Henderson. He lives in the apartment section upstairs and practically rolls out of bed each morning into work. He comments:

“Situated behind the Mailbox, in the heart of Birmingham and close to the City’s business quarter, the location of the unit is perfect for ‘The Spires’. Living in the apartment section works well for me because I avoid a difficult commute in both the morning and the evening. I also have all the benefits of Birmingham’s social life on my doorstep and the business can constantly be kept under close watch.”

Margaret adds:

“Just like a hotel, ‘The Spires’ must provide its customers with a 24-hour service and the live/work unit allows us to do this. Since launching the Birmingham business a month ago, we’ve been almost fully booked every day.”

The serviced apartments offered by ‘The Spires’ are available from £90 per night. For more information go to Thespires.co.uk.