Barratt launches ‘simpler and quicker’ 2017 house designs
July 17 2017
Rejigged floorplans maximise useable space while externally properties will be distinguished by new format windows, ‘cleaner’ roodlines, fresh brick bandings and front door surrounds to add ‘character and distinctiveness’.
Douglas McLeod, regional managing director for Barratt Homes Scotland commented: “We have designed the new 2017 range of homes to make them even better to live in. There is more of a design focus on how they practically work as a home, with better storage, light and simpler lines. People can move around them more easily, with bags and clothing that can be comfortably stored. They are also simpler and quicker to build, meaning more customers can enjoy living in a 5 star home even sooner.”
The new house styles will m ake their debut at Barratt @ Heritage Grange in Edinburgh, Ness Castle, Inverness and Abbey View, Elderslie.
Last year Scotframe unveiled their own style range to 'blend' into the countryside while before that rival builder MacTaggart & Mickel drew inspiration from past architects for its own style book.
New detailing will be introduced such as brick banding and dorr surrounds
Roofscapes have been rationalised for the new breed of homes
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15 Comments
#1 Posted by M is for Mungo on 17 Jul 2017 at 14:00 PM
Kudos for making downpipes quicker and simpler to build in 2017 - just remove them
#2 Posted by A Local Pleb on 17 Jul 2017 at 14:21 PM
These wouldn't look out of place within Trumpton or the set of The Truman Show!
#3 Posted by Ian on 17 Jul 2017 at 15:35 PM
I am not a trained architect or planner so I am going to ask a very 'naive' question. I can only imagine it suits the profits of companies like Barratt to build the type of mass housing they get away with. However why do the powers that be allow this type of housing which adds absolutely nothing to the quality of our urban townscapes. Government and the local planning departments must know what they are doing, musn't they?
#4 Posted by MoFloBro on 17 Jul 2017 at 17:23 PM
'more customers can enjoy living in a 5 star home even sooner'
It's dishonest to suggest this will result in better, more affordable homes. It completely ignores the economics of land and the speculative nature of it's pricing. Land and house prices will be determined by how much people can afford - or rather how much debt they're allowed to take on by the banks and government. Efficiencies like this are a complete irrelevance.
It's dishonest to suggest this will result in better, more affordable homes. It completely ignores the economics of land and the speculative nature of it's pricing. Land and house prices will be determined by how much people can afford - or rather how much debt they're allowed to take on by the banks and government. Efficiencies like this are a complete irrelevance.
#5 Posted by Graeme McCormick on 17 Jul 2017 at 18:28 PM
So are Barratt getting rid of the three quarter beds in their show houses?
#6 Posted by StyleCouncil on 17 Jul 2017 at 19:17 PM
Bang on #4
Economics aside, Planning departments and LA's should be much more proactive in making developers try much, much harder to produce higher quality.
I am astonished at the amount of dross being built around Mid and East Lothian. Roundabout after roundabout of utter crap. House building is such a cynical and lazy industry... but they can get away with it so why would they change?
Economics aside, Planning departments and LA's should be much more proactive in making developers try much, much harder to produce higher quality.
I am astonished at the amount of dross being built around Mid and East Lothian. Roundabout after roundabout of utter crap. House building is such a cynical and lazy industry... but they can get away with it so why would they change?
#7 Posted by boaby wan on 17 Jul 2017 at 22:31 PM
"roofscapes have been rationalised" i.e. all the detail has been removed so we can built it cheaper and not have to cut any concrete tiles or use any expensive lead details.
really really poor - its a shame that people are forced to buy stuff like this through lack of options and give the developers the argument that its what people like/want just because its sold... planners should be asking for more than this dross
really really poor - its a shame that people are forced to buy stuff like this through lack of options and give the developers the argument that its what people like/want just because its sold... planners should be asking for more than this dross
#8 Posted by M is for Mungo on 18 Jul 2017 at 12:24 PM
At least the render company had fun with the desgins - the roof's say OWOWOWOWOWOW
#9 Posted by Andrew Miller on 18 Jul 2017 at 13:09 PM
While working as a sub contractor on a very large timber kit I was surprised at the poor quality and large tolerances kit detectors work to. External double height walls out of plum by 18mm at first floor, steels not plum and in some cases incorrectly positioned. Never knew things were so bad in our industry, it's speed and cost over substance and quality.
#10 Posted by concerned on 18 Jul 2017 at 13:20 PM
I think that the comments of Ian are perhaps the most relevant to date. Yet again I appeal to the editorial dudes at Urban Realm Get real and limit publishing articles on demonstrable rubbish. Why do you persist ?
#11 Posted by Gzilla on 18 Jul 2017 at 13:51 PM
It looks like these have been 'designed' using a Quantity Surveyor's spreadsheet.
#12 Posted by Liam on 18 Jul 2017 at 14:13 PM
#10 - get the need to showcase best practice but surely UR should offer a news function and show what is happening around the country at the moment (which it does well) and the activity of volume house builders is pretty relevant to that. And the comments suggest plenty of folk care about it too!
#13 Posted by Urban Realm on 18 Jul 2017 at 14:19 PM
Yes, we do not edit based on perceived quality simply because of the degree of subjectivity involved and the absence of sufficient big budget builds to justify daily updates. We do however insist, in the vast majority of cases, to the involvement of an architect.
On the occasions we do make exception it is to acknowledge what is happening in the wider built environment - dominated as it is by volume builders. It has long been a goal to improve this output but we can only do that through engagement, not by turning a blind eye.
On the occasions we do make exception it is to acknowledge what is happening in the wider built environment - dominated as it is by volume builders. It has long been a goal to improve this output but we can only do that through engagement, not by turning a blind eye.
#14 Posted by lm on 18 Jul 2017 at 15:43 PM
I visited some of the affordable housing estates in Manchester and the quality of the buildings are in a totally higher league. I think Barratt homes does not care about the design of better quality living in Scotland the only thing he cares about is how to make money. This is totally ok from his side. The only thing we can do is to force Barratt to do better which obviously authorities are not doing but encouraging this kind of terrible housing. Countries around us are doing better, moving forward, looking better... unfortunately Scotland is not moving anywhere and I don't get it.
#15 Posted by Ross the Boss on 19 Jul 2017 at 13:38 PM
It’s comforting for future homebuyers to know that the £300,000 tin shed they bought in 2018 actually cost and took less time to build than it did the year before. I feel comforted, do you feel comforted? You should feel comforted.
Anyone else think there was a design pow wow with the Director at Barratts, someone forgot to invite the ‘architect’, so the admin staff got the eraser out and ‘improved’ the design?
Back of a fag packet comes to mind.
Anyone else think there was a design pow wow with the Director at Barratts, someone forgot to invite the ‘architect’, so the admin staff got the eraser out and ‘improved’ the design?
Back of a fag packet comes to mind.
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