Bristol townhouses designed for working from home

A set of townhouses being built on a former chocolate factory in Bristol have been specially designed with home working in mind.

The designs have seen the kitchens moved to the top floor of the three-storey townhouses so that the ground floor has flexible space for a home-based business.

The innovative design is being incorporated into a number of townhouses soon to be completed at The Chocolate  Factory in Greenbank.

The Shaw Collection designs are within the framework of the old factory building so the townhouses have high ceilings and feature windows.

The layout of the 1,100 square feet of space over three floors has been designed with post-pandemic living and working in mind.

Mya Castillo, sales and marketing consultant for The Chocolate Factory, said: “On the ground floor these townhouses have a big open space which could be used as a therapy room, a workshop, an art studio, office, writing room or consulting room.

“There is a utility room, so that people do not have to go to the top floor for a coffee and it means that home workers can have a public area and reception and live on the floors above.

“It also means that the kitchen and living area on the top floor has vaulted ceilings and wonderful views across Bristol.

The townhouses are close to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path for an easy cycle commute and sit within the wonderful Greenbank community with all its well-established pubs, cafes and shops.

“We also have townhouses in the Shaw Collection with ground floor kitchens that will suit people with a family who want more bedrooms.

“The townhouses are already 50 per cent sold so anyone interested should get in touch soon.”

Housing designs in the UK have to change with the times. In 1981 only 1.5 per cent of those in employment said they worked mainly from home, that tripled to 4.7 per cent by 2019.

The townhouses at The Chocolate Factory will be ready to move into by the end of the year.