Live the high life with a three-storey home in Braehead

Thu, Mar 6th 2008, 11:15

House builder Redrow, currently building across Scotland’s central belt, including Riverside Point, in Braehead, near Glasgow, commissioned a survey of 1,000 customers living in both two and three-storey homes, and the results show some compelling reasons for choosing height over width when moving house.

According to the study almost two thirds of three-storey converts would rather keep their extra floor than move into a two-storey home.

Although most of the three-storey buyers didn’t specifically look for a home with three floors, the choice clearly paid off – as over two thirds of people questioned have found the extra floor useful, with most buyers using it for extra bedrooms.

It’s also likely that those enjoying elevated living have had the odd envious look from their neighbours, as nearly 75% of people living in a traditional two-storey home said they were attracted to the idea of adding an extra floor to their living space.

Modern life is having an impact on the type of housing that we need and three-storey homes are becoming increasingly common. Families are now less conventional, with a rise in step-families and more unusual living arrangements. Friends also frequently buy together in order to get on the property ladder. These changes mean the demand for a flexible type of living space is higher than ever.

Simon Bennett, group marketing director for Redrow, explains the appeal: “We’ve always known the advantages that three-storey homes can offer, but hearing the reasons directly from our own customers – those who are actually experiencing it for themselves - confirms this for us.

“Whilst three-storey living was popular back in Victorian times, living spread over three floors today is a contemporary solution to modern day life, and we’ve found that buyers at all stages of the property buying ladder appreciate its appeal – from young families right through to ‘empty nesters’.”

Buyers also highlighted many reasons why three-storey property is now coveted, including an increased level of privacy offered by first floor living areas as well as the fact that it gives home owners the option to be creative and flexible with their internal layout. The extra stairs in this type of property also have an added bonus – with several owners saying it helped keep them fit!

Those who have bought a three-storey home from Redrow have used their extra floor space in various ways. Many have used the opportunity to give teenagers and older children their own space and independence, which can be difficult to do in the traditional two-storey home. And people who work from home have also benefited, as a home office can be tucked away on the top floor, separating ‘home’ and ‘work’ lives.

One thing that both two and three-storey owners agreed on was the value for money this property design offers, with the majority of each group believing that three-storey buyers get more for their money.

Those tempted by a taller property have plenty to choose from at Riverside Point, a development of 342 new homes, at Braehead.

The four-bedroom Ribble and the Lambourne, available as a three or four-bedroom property, are ideal for professionals and families alike and each home has its roof space cleverly converted to create a sumptuous master suite. Prices start at £210,000 for the Lambourne and £249,995 for the Ribble.

There’s also the three-bedroom Malham from £236,000 or the four-bedroom Forth from £246,000, and most of the properties include a garage.
The homes at Riverside Point will share the footprint of Redrow’s existing design portfolio, but their contemporary exteriors will be quite different from the developer’s previous homes in Scotland. 

The development has been designed with community in mind and landscape architects have carefully considered planting with avenues of trees and shrubbed areas.

The area has fantastic local amenities – not least the Braehead shopping and leisure centre and Xscape family entertainments complex which are a stone’s throw away from Riverside Point.

The River Clyde is just a short stroll away and families will be attracted by the availability of several nurseries and primary schools in the area, whilst Renfrew High School is within walking distance.

It is also convenient for Glasgow city centre and offers easy access to the M8, linking to the motorway network, and Glasgow International Airport, making it the ideal location for commuters.

A comprehensively equipped  new marketing suite, complete with a model of the development,  is also now open at Riverside Point, off Andrew Avenue, daily from 10am to 5.30pm.

To find out more about life at Riverside Point, off Kings Inch Road log onto www.redrow.co.uk/developments/view/179 or call 0845 676 0422.