Barratt builds big spaces for big families

With the rising cost of living today, extended families are making a comeback in Britain and housebuilder Barratt West Midlands has embarked on a new housing project designed specifically with larger families in mind.

Situated on Island Road in Handsworth, the development named Lydiate Place comprises four- and five-bedroom houses and unusually for the area, six- and seven-bedroom houses, which are ideal for a variety of family arrangements.

The number of extended families, or more than a couple of generations living in one household, in the UK will treble over the next 20 years according to the Skipton Building Society*. This report from the society projects that in the next two decades there will be around 200,000 extended ‘financial families' in existence, an increase of 125,000 since 2004.

David Child, Sales Director for Barratt explained, "Over the past decade, Handsworth has lost many larger properties in the area to housing associations and to the trend towards converting large houses and flats into bedsits. There is no longer such a demand for these units, whereas there is a need in the area for modern, larger homes and we have certainly experienced a marked increase in the number homebuyers looking for a home big enough to cater for parents, grandparents and children all under one roof.
"Therefore when designing the homes at Lydiate Place it was important to include a selection of larger homes which are able to cater to the specific needs of extended families. Along with offering extra bedrooms, the homes at Lydiate Place have also been designed over three floors which creates extra space and privacy, something which we have found to be a very important consideration for those buying a home with several generations.

"There is also a particular demand for new homes. With a new home you have less maintenance and is more energy efficient and therefore cost-efficient.

Lydiate Place is ideally situated with road links to Birmingham city centre along with the M6 and M5 motorways within easy reach.

Prices at Lydiate Place start from £275,250. For more information visit Barratthomes.co.uk/lydiateplace.

*Statistics taken from Skipton Building Society press release, Extended Families to Make a Comeback, Thursday 20th April 2004.