If you’re looking to buy a new build home in the UK, it’s important to look at different types of homes, from apartments to detached villas to townhouses, to ensure you purchase the home that best suits you, your lifestyle and needs.
Townhouse living continues to be a popular housetype for a range of home buyers despite first gaining popularity in the Victorian era. This blog outlines what a townhouse is, its benefits and why it is proving popular with families, not to mention some expert opinions on the housetype.
What is a townhouse home?
A townhouse is a property that spans three storeys and tends to sit side to side with at least one other property. It is often referred to as terraced (either end- or mid-terraced) or semi-detached, meaning it is connected to only one other similar property. Nowadays you can also purchase detached townhouses, giving buyers more space and privacy. The third floor creates extra space, so it is ideal for growing families, and although originally seen as properties found in urban areas, more and more townhouses are now appearing in suburbs.
Demand for townhouses has been driven recently by more home working, in addition to a growing number of stepfamilies and multi-family households. Families and households are continuously changing shape, which is one of the reasons a townhouse may be the perfect solution, as families can adapt this home to suit the structure of their household.
Townhouse living means homes are built with today’s world in mind. At Cala, townhouses are becoming increasingly popular across our UK developments, with a range of different buyers snapping them up for reasons all tied to modern ways of living.
What are the benefits of townhouse living?
So, what is the appeal of townhouse living? In our opinion, the answer is more relevant now than it has ever been before - flexibility, adaptability and the opportunity to section off various elements of daily life. Here are our top reasons to opt for townhouse living:
- Flexibility and adaptability
Townhouses offer the opportunity to adapt your space and use rooms as you need them, instead of more prescriptive standard two-storey homes. Whether you need an additional living space, a playroom or a space to work from home, a townhouse is easily adaptable to all family dynamics, and room uses can be altered as the family evolves.
This is a home that adapts with the homeowner as it can flex to their lifestyle changes and as their family grows – for example, a nursery can become a playroom, morph into an office, or transform into a gym. A ‘forever home’ can sound cliché but with this much flexibility, this housetype really does cater for growth and makes it simple to switch up rooms to suit your needs at a specific time.
- Extra storey equates to extra space
Homebuyers can enjoy a feeling of more space thanks to the third-floor footprint, which is great for those looking to use their homes for different purposes. For those always wishing for additional space, the extra floor gives an opportunity to create that coveted dressing room, or perhaps a toy room heaven to ‘hide’ the kids’ toys out of sight from the rest of the home. Whatever the purpose, the top floor is the perfect space to fulfil what the heart desires – the possibilities are endless.
- Opportunity to create your own haven
For those looking for a haven away from all the hustle and bustle of the home, the sanctuary of the top floor could be the perfect answer, offering great views from above and a sense of peace and quiet, removed from the hub of the kitchen and main living areas.
At Cala, we have witnessed a shift in this ever-growing preference of living, with more townhouses within our developments across the UK than ever before.
Cala Homes’ developments
One development within our portfolio showcasing the three-storey lifestyle is Rivermead Gardens in Alton, which features The Wey, a semi-detached townhouse, ideal for growing families.
This housetype spans 1,436 sq.ft and offers four spacious bedrooms split across the top two levels, allowing homebuyers to decide how best to adapt this home to suit their needs.
The Wey showhome is available to view so potential purchasers can get a glimpse of the flexible and contemporary living on offer.
Take a look at our tour of this home on Instagram.
The Chaplin at Newington Residences in Edinburgh has also proven popular due to its spacious three storeys.
At 1608 sq.ft, this townhouse features a high specification, studio-designed open plan kitchen/dining area, a large, light-filled lounge with a Juliet balcony and three-bedrooms, with two upper bedrooms with wardrobe space and en suites. You can find out more about our last remaining Chaplin home
Expert insight
Steve Rule, our Group Design and Technical Director, said: “Townhouse living is far from a passing trend, in fact it has been popular for centuries and this style is a classic within British architecture and design. Post pandemic, buyers are more discerning and clearer about what they need their homes to be able to do for them – townhouse living really fits the bill".
“It offers a collection of spaces that can be tailored and adapted to what you need to use them for, from accommodating new pets or hybrid working, to fitness or separate spaces to unwind, townhouses really can offer it all without compromise on space, great views and, of course, a garden".
“More and more of our developments include townhouse designs, not only to meet demand from our homebuyers, but to reflect the new ways of living we are all settling into. Adaptability is key and I think homebuyers today really recognise the opportunity townhouse living can bring to the table.”
Interior designer’s view: How to style a townhouse
If you’re looking for modern townhouse interior design ideas, then our expert commentary will inspire you.
Sarah Cave of Blocc Interiors, who designed The Wey showhome at Rivermead Gardens, said:
“Townhouse living offers unparalleled adaptability, catering to the dynamic needs of modern families. In our design approach for the Wey showhome at Rivermead Gardens, we prioritised cohesion and adaptability".
Employing a neutral palette, accented by deep blues, ensured colour consistency and unity flowed smoothly across all three floors. Our curation of art further enhanced this cohesion, adding visual interest while maintaining a unified aesthetic. Contemporary design elements like chrome fittings, plush fabrics, and crisp lines were artfully blended to create an elegant and sophisticated family home.
“The three-story layout truly maximises living space versatility, offering room to grow without sacrificing comfort or convenience—a home that can truly evolve to meet your needs.”
Hear from townhouse happy buyers
A Cala happy buyer was “very happy” with their decision to purchase a three-storey home:
“We didn't set out to get a townhouse specifically, however the additional rooms allow us to accommodate working from home, which is a huge benefit. We also like that the top floor allows us privacy and peace. In particular, we love the size of the rooms and the spacious garden we have.”
John Evans bought a townhouse at Waterfront Plaza in Leith. He said:
“First and foremost, it’s easy to look after. It’s also energy efficient, that was really important to me, probably more so now, given energy prices.”
“My favourite thing is the living layout, the floorspace is bigger than your average house. Having the office and the lounge downstairs and then having the kitchen and bedroom on the first floor, I think is a really clever design.”
Interested in townhouse living? Search our developments to view our townhouses for sale and find your perfect home.
