HOUSEBUILDER Stewart Milne expects its redesigned homes to help it bring in revenues of £550 million over the next two years from house sales in Scotland and north-west England.

A spokeswoman said the firm was “anticipating a significant shift in revenues”, as it cited a “competitive advantage” from unveiling its new designs at a time when people “need and expect” more from their homes because of the Covid-19 crisis and associated restrictions.

The Aberdeen-based housebuilder said “the most ambitious and comprehensive redesign” of its homes range in its history would generate sales of £300m across developments in Scotland and north-west England which already have planning permission, with a further £250m of house sales in the pipeline over the next two years from other planned projects.

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It declared its new designs “cater for the changing needs of families now and in the future”, noting “increasing demand for flexible space, indoors and outdoors – a growing trend following the coronavirus-imposed lockdowns.”

Stuart Henderson, at Stewart Milne Homes, said: “We were undertaking a comprehensive design review of our homes before the pandemic. The enforced lockdown has brought into sharp focus the design and functionality of our homes and accelerated the process.”

He noted that the housebuilder had, following extensive customer research, "set out clear design principles which are at the heart of every new design". 

Mr Henderson added: "These are: simple elegance, supremely functional and appealing. Our design teams reviewed how people move around and use their home, examining what they do in each room and what they need as a result. This has shaped the new lay-outs which are much more functional, including utility rooms with sinks, showers as standard in all family bathrooms, direct access into gardens from kitchens and utility rooms, larger windows and options for a home office on the ground floor, as well as better usable space throughout.”

He  has also been involved in developing a design framework for the layout of new developments, including the design of streets, landscaping, and "formal and informal green spaces".