Working from home is increasing, leading more people to want a property with dedicated office space, according to housebuilder Redrow. Research suggests that home working has increased by more than 25% in the last five years, with almost a third of employees now spending at least a day a week working at home. While having a laptop on your knee is fine for casual browsing and the dining table can double as a desk occasionally, regular home workers will require a dedicated office space where they can concentrate away from the distractions of family life. Kerry McCoubrey, sales director for Redrow Homes (Eastern), explains: “Flexible working patterns and the increased ability to spend at least part of the working week at home make it easier to balance work and family life. As people spend more time telecommuting than physically commuting they start to think more about the part of the home they’re working in. The properties in our Heritage Collection, including those at The Maples in Buntingford, have been well thought-out to meet the demands of modern life, including the ability to work from home with a study included in several designs.” Four and five-bedroom detached homes are currently available at The Maples, priced from £599,995. Properties with studies include the four-bedroom Canterbury and the five-bedroom Sandringham and Highgrove styles. “The advantage of having a home office can’t be underestimated,” Kerry adds. “It can help keep regular working hours so that you keep to ‘office hours’ at home. There’s no need to pack and unpack each day as you have a dedicated work space. Plus the children will know that while mum or dad are in the study it’s the equivalent to them being ‘at work’ and they shouldn’t be disturbed.” The Maples is the perfect commuter base, with a choice of options for travelling into London. Homeowners could make a short drive to nearby Royston, Ware or Hertford East stations and then hop on the train to the capital. Ware and Hertford East are a 20-minute drive from the development, offering journey times to London Liverpool Street of 47 and 51 minutes respectively. It’s also a great place to raise a family as there’s a choice of ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools within walking distance of the new homes at The Maples. Buntingford High Street is home to a selection of stores and cafes; while there are options for more serious retail therapy in in Hertford, which is 20 minutes away by car, or Cambridge, which can be reached in 35 minutes. The show home at The Maples is open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5.30pm. For more information see redrow.co.uk/themaples.
Homes within Redrow's Heritage Collection are designed with modern living in mind, including the trend toward flexible working, according to Kerry McCoubrey, sales director for Redrow Homes (Eastern). The company has been selling homes since its founding in 1926 and now operates more than 100 properties across Canada. The four-bedroom Canterbury and five-bedroom Sandringham and Highgrove styles have studies. Over the past five years, home working has risen by over 25%, and around a third of people now work at least one day from home each week, according to research.