11 minute read
THE HOME REVOLUTION How has Covid
The HOME REVOLUTION It’s hardly stop-press news that Covid has aected every single aspect of our lives so what has been the ripple eect on Bristol’s property market?
Factory number 1: another tick in the East Street gentrification box. They’ve got themselves a branch of Bristol Loaf down there now, you know . . .
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Although very few of us were actively engaged in house-hunting during lockdown, we’ve all been spending a lot more time in our homes, and thinking hard about what we want from them – now, and in the future.
One big trend that looks set to stick around, at least to some extent, is the switch from an ocebased ninetofive to working from home. This may initially have been introduced as a temporary measure, but given a taste of what working life can be without the tedium and expense of a lengthy commute, many people would now happily see the arrangement becoming more permanent.
So, how has this quiet domestic revolution impacted on the city’s developers, estate agents and property managers? What are buyers looking for, in the post-lockdown world? Are people seeking to retreat en masse to some bucolic idyll, or are they keener than ever to be close to the amenities of the city centre?
Oh, don’t ask us, we’re not the experts – but these guys are… THE DEVELOPERS CITY AND COUNTRY “While in some parts of the UK people are turning to the countryside in search of the rural life, many others continue to want to live in our city centres, with access to everything they provide,” says associate partner Alex Reid. “Good working-from-home space is now vital, and easy access to London is also an important factor.”
Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books “Factory No.1 in Bedminster, and The General, just over the river in edclie both restorations and conversions of some of ristol’s most important historic buildings, but with distinctly dierent styles.
“Factory No.1 is located on East Street, opposite the new branch of he ristol oaf. ormerly the first tobacco factory of and ills, it now oers stylish new apartments. e’re also building a range of completely new apartments that will surround large and private terraced gardens the perfect oasis in the heart of the city.
“The General has become one of the city’s most well-known developments. Over the past few years we’ve created some amazing homes here, including the conversion of the former chapel and a triplex
apartment in the building’s magnificent octagonal gee ome. ow the ing dward II ing is the last opportunity to own a piece of this iconic building, some homes having lovely views over the iver von. For more: cityandcountry.co.uk
JUNIPER HOMES onfidence was high at the beginning of and then along came ovid, says director on organ. It brought the property market to a standstill. or the first time in our history we had to close sites, to protect our construction sta; however, we are back on track now, and ecited about bringing our current developments to the market. e are currently seeing new homes prices hold their own across our developments. n the ipside, I think we are all aware that mortgage availability is likely to become an issue over coming months. utdoor space and rural locations are currently at a premium. ur rural atterswood site sold three of the four homes postlockdown. t edland ourt, many apartments and houses also have private outdoor space, while the site is set in three acres of private grounds.
Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books e are really ecited about edland ourt; it’s a landmark development steeped in history. ithin he anor ouse we are creating four euisitely refurbished apartments. Preserving its historic significance while transforming newer buildings is probably the most eacting proect uniper has ever undertaken. For more: juniperhomes.co.uk
The General has become a benchmark for quality redevelopment, due to City & Country’s heritage-sensitive repurposing and complementary new-builds
ACORN ince lockdown restrictions eased, we’ve seen a urry of interest across all our sites, says obin uire, of corn’s ristol oce. uyers seem more motivated to find a new home and settle now, in case of future lockdown. he stamp duty holiday, as well as regional caps set to aect elp to uy net year, means that now is a great time to buy. OPPOSITE CLOCKWISE: The superbly sustainable Hill Barn; exquisitely he lockdown restrictions have made many people reevaluate their designed interiors at Redland Court; contemporary living at its worklife balance. ith the opportunity to work from home, people no sexiest at Lambridgewood; a tub with a view at The General; vibrant new Harbourside community Wapping Wharflonger want the city commute, and instead want more open space for their family, in a beautiful location. Tell us about some exciting properties on your books Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books “ e are currently working on a range of traditional and contemporary
In ruton, our ubis ruton development oers ecochic modern private houses, including ill arn, a greenroofed, contemporary homes in peaceful countryside, and has seen a huge increase in twostorey home located within an area of outstanding natural beauty, enuiries. ope ouse in ath oers a parkland setting within walking which utilises Ps and a esla battery for renewable energy storage. distance of the city centre, which buyers are loving for the best of ambridgewood is a threestorey home set into a steeply sloping rural both worlds. In rome we’re launching he ld Printworks, oering site, allowing uninterrupted longranging countryside views. oth contemporary family homes, and we’re also seeing high demand for properties utilise local vernacular materials in a modern manner to our ross arm development in edmore, with beautiful architecture create carefully composed interventions in the landscape. bringing the outside in. For more: acornpropertyinvest.com In a more traditional style, we are working on the renovation and THE PROPERTY MANAGERS home, where we have been utilising hypoallergenic materials to address the health needs of the client’s family. 3SIXTY REAL ESTATE For more: spratley-partners.uk rom a building consultancy perspective, has been a year of volatility, with an instant pause on the announcement of the lockdown followed by an almost immediate regear and continuation, says director ames ithall. Tell us about some of the most exciting properties on your books uring lockdown, we managed to work the planning angle on a care facility in ickwar, securing planning for a highend residential scheme and then selling on the site with the benefit of planning. e also began the redevelopment of the former riangle lub in levedon, having secured planning for a “It’s a really fast-paced market at the moment, and people want to get moving – there’s a feeling that we don’t know what’s coming round the corner” THE ESTATE AGENTS KNIGHT FRANK It’s great to come back from furlough to find an active market and many people wanting to get moving, says associate essie ibbs. veryone has been incredibly considerate when it comes to safely conducting viewings and entering active building sites. I think people spent a lot of lockdown considering what they don’t like about the houses they live in. evelopments which launched after lockdown have eperienced a lot of interest, especially homes with outside mied use residential and barcoee shop space, though some of the properties which groundoor use. hese sites are at opposite had been on the market before lockdown ends of the price bracket, yet demand for both appears buoyant, with a have struggled. fallback of buildtorent remaining an option for the long term. It’s a really fastpaced market at the moment, and people want to For more: 3sixtyrealestate.co.uk get moving there’s a feeling that we don’t know what’s coming round THE ARCHITECTS Prices are pretty much where they were before lockdown. his is down to the high levels of activity in the market since we’ve come back, SPRATLEY & PARTNERS and the pentup demand that has built. has definitely been a challenge, but among the bad news there uyers are not necessarily looking for more rural areas, but they are have been some positives, says director hris elly. e have been definitely looking for larger properties with space for home working. lucky to have remained busy throughout, with a mi of commercial and utside space has also become far more important considerations residential work, and we’re still seeing a good number of new enuiries such as mental health, standards of living, and what we would all like coming through. e are continuing to remain positive for the industry during any future lockdown situation are all playing a part. and will adapt to whatever the net few months bring. What trends have you been seeing? e’ve got a development called ydstep errace nine town houses e have always undertaken a lot of work on oneo homes in rural in outhville with wonderful gardens and views over the park. nother areas, but these enuires have grown this year, with more clients moving eciting one is a rural hamlet of properties in the endips area called away from urban areas and epanding their search to find the right ichmont Place. For more: knightfrank.co.uk property. lot of people I have been speaking to, clients, consultants refurbishment of ock nd ouse, a thcentury timber framed the corner. Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books and colleagues, have all spent a longtime reassessing what they desire SAVILLS from their living space during lockdown. I think has been a year e’ve seen unprecedented demand since lockdown has eased, says where people have really come to value their own homes, whether it has icky udbridge, head of residential development sales. a beautifully landscaped garden and eternal space, or a light and airy Pentup demand has translated in to record enuiry numbers as study area, or even a small snug area in which you can hide away for people reassess their needs in light of lockdown. In ristol we have seen some uiet time. an increase in the number of buyers of citycentre developments, who
Last Property Remaining at Bespoke, Award-Winning Development
Staunton Manor is a collection of just 8 private bespoke character properties conveniently located for access to Bristol, Bath or Wells and benefitting from a 10 Year New Home Warranty
Davies and Way 1 High Street, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1DP
0117 9863681 keynsham@daviesandway.com www.daviesandway.com
Price £649,000
All properties are positioned around a central courtyard that was once part of the former historic Horse World Centre and located in the heart of Whitchurch Village. The village offers a range of amenities in addition to good transport links and accessibility to cycling routes into Bristol city centre and Bath.
Key features
• Award Winning Development • Excellent transport links to Bristol and Bath • Flexible living accommodation • Three double bedrooms • En suite shower room • Family bathroom • Landscaped gardens • Private Drive • BANES School Catchment • 10 year ICW Warranty
ABOVE: Acorn at the cutting edge of modern family living: ABOVE: The Old Printworks; BELOW: Cubis Bruton
are selling a home prior to moving; a dierent picture when compared to prelockdown. e saw demand intensify over the summer, and a survey we conducted shows that ovid has increased the desire to move home. uyer determination to avoid compromise on lifestyle factors has intensified, too; people are looking for more space, both inside and outside. In the city markets, people are increasingly seeking urban properties with private balconies and gardens, as well as good proimity to parkland and green spaces. he desire for increased working from home looks set to become a longterm phenomenon, with over half of respondents from the survey saying they would be more inclined to work from home more regularly.
Tell us about some of the exciting properties on your books apping harf is a vibrant new community built among the city’s everimproving independent food, drink and shopping uarter, oering a mi of apartments oering the best in modern living within attractive wharfstyle buildings. sympathetic restoration of the former girls’ school, edland ourt is a collection of architecturally uniue buildings that will create a new community of apartments and town houses in the heart of edland. he new community will be set among beautiful parkland with spectacular views across ristol, with eceptional communal grounds in addition to private outdoor space. n For more: savills.co.uk
