Housebuilder pivots to building more bungalows

A housebuilder that says it is one of the biggest familyowned firms of its kind in Scotland has revealed that it is for the first time since 2018 pivoting new developments back to providing more bungalows, which it says tend to be most popular among maturer age groups, a demographic that has been growing.

Muir Homes, part of the Muir Group, based in Inverkeithing, Fife, said that while most homebuilders have tended to prioritise multiple-storey houses recently as they generate higher profit margins than bungalows, it is bucking the trend, starting with its new development in Stanley in Perthshire. The Deer Pines development will have two different bungalow house types, with two-bed and three-bed semi detached available to buy, and more than a fifth of the development will be one storey.

The company cited the National Records of Scotland reporting in its most recent review of demographic trends that there are now more people aged 65 and over than people under 15 in the country.

Martin Smith, chief executive of Muir Group, commented: “Scotland’s changing demographics have been clear to see for some time now, and with more and more interest in bungalows we are taking a strategic decision to build more of them going forward.

“Understandably, mature groups are now shifting towards single-storey homes. We believe that our developments thrive when we attract a wide range of groups that quickly establish and evolve into a vibrant and sustainable community. Our new development in Perthshire will buck the trend, not only for its availability of bungalows, but also because of the focus on the environment.”