The results were architecturally featureless, overly similar looking homes that often did not sit very well with their largely suburban environment. They often used wholly different materials to those in the local vernacular, and sometimes placed car parking in such a way as to over-dominate the street scene.

It is largely from this era that the new build’s reputation for being anonymous derives. It is also the period that began to change public perceptions of how Britain’s built environment should progress.

In the recovery from the economic crash of the early 90s, luxury and lifestyle became the buzzwords and first time buyers were largely forgotten. Instead, wealthier buyers could enjoy homes in gated environments, apartments or penthouses equipped with intelligent wiring, home entertainment systems and a far greater range of fixtures and fittings.

The most iconic properties of the late 80s and 90s were the spectacular conversions of former industrial, commercial or public buildings to create stylish apartments.

Pros

The new build stock of the 80s and 90s is perfect for the type of homeowner who cares more about how they live rather than where. Greater heat efficiency and more durable materials mean that you can instead spend your money on holidays or hobbies rather than heating and maintenance.

You generally get parking of some form, often with garages attached.

There are more plug sockets and telecoms sockets in more places, and walls and floors are of course flatter and more uniform than might be found in older properties.

Houses from this time benefited from new fitted kitchens and stylised bathroom suites, and towards the late 90s developers began to offer “rooms in the roof” to maximise available living space.

Cons

To today’s tastes many of the interior design choices of the 80s look rather naff. Avocado, pastel pink or chocolate brown bathrooms, artex ceilings and walls, etched door glass and country-style kitchens, to name but a few.

Rooms lack character, as fireplaces were dispensed with in favour of central heating, and ceilings were particularly low.

Windows and doors tend to be small, and made of wear resistant, but not particularly attractive, materials.

Connecting walls are usually plasterboard and, like the floors, offer very little sound insulation.

Today a new build of the 80s would require a good deal of modernisation to bring it up to today’s standards in heat efficiency and accessibility. Meanwhile greater demand for ‘lifestyle’ features such as kitchen/breakfast rooms, conservatories and family rooms make the 80s and 90s home look like a dowdy cousin.

Typical Owners

Phil and Sandra named their kids – Mondeo, Bus Stop and Washer/dryer. Home to them is that place you come back to for a decent cuppa after your third holiday abroad this year.

Useful Websites:

The Building Research Establishment
Joseph Roundtree Foundation
Centre for the Understanding of the Built Environment

2000 and Onwards >>