Britian has the smallest size in new build home

newbian

It's also worth keeping in mind that average household size is also falling in this country and there is a huge rise in single person households. According to ONS 29% of households in England are single person households. If you follow through to RIBA's site, at the minimum size they give for a 1 bed flat is for 2 people in it and their minimum for a 3 bed is based on 5 people in it.

http://www.architecture.com/newsandpress/News/ribanews/News/2011/Shamefulshoeboxhomesnewresearchrevealshowthousandsofbrandnewhousesarefailingtoprovidethespacefamiliesneed.aspx

Your typical childless couple with a bit of money in their pocket wants a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, and an office. So a small 3 bed new build is perfectly fine for them. In our development several of the 3 beds were sold to single owner occupiers. Fewer people are looking for a sprawling family home these days if the statistics are to be believed.

martinsurrey

Another thing to consider is that UK houses have never been massive

I picked a post code near me and looked at all period 3 beds with measurements - the guide standard is 98 sq m for new builds

3 bed - 87 sq m - and this has been extended
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-40569443.html#

3 bed - 92 Sq m

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26368551.html#

3 bed 90 sqm

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-38120902.html?premiumA=true#


3 bed 84 sq m

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-36514513.html#


So its not as if new builds are going against the grain of history, its just these new “minimums” are large by historic standards.

thedalmeny

newbian wrote: »

Your typical childless couple with a bit of money in their pocket wants a master bedroom, a guest bedroom, and an office. So a small 3 bed new build is perfectly fine for them. In our development several of the 3 beds were sold to single owner occupiers. Fewer people are looking for a sprawling family home these days if the statistics are to be believed.

Very good point made.

If you take my situation..

We're buying a 4 bedroom detached house (With separate lounge, kitchen and second living space / dining room downstairs) and it's only me, my wife and our 3 year old.

With no current plans for more children (even if my partner eventually twists my arm, it'll only be one more and i'd consider upgrading to a 5 bedroom house or even larger 4 bedroom in that case.).

Despite that, i intend to convert the garage into 'man cave' within the first year, expanding the space even more.

We like to have at least 1 guest room and an office space for me.

gfplux

Until all property when advertised for sale has the size in square feet or meters BEFORE stating how many bedrooms we will never begin to think in SIZE and not BEDROOMS