With names such as iPad and i-Life, there is a new generation of starter homes on the way.

David Pretty, the chief executive of Barratt, has just launched an initiative to help struggling first-time buyers by calling for every towns and villages everywhere to allocate a couple of redundant acres for starter homes and earlier this week the company unveiled plans for the iPad, their answer to affordable housing.

At just 380 square feet, with a stylish living space and fully-fitted kitchen area, separate bedroom and proper bathroom, the iPad takes its name from the iPod, the MP3 player as they are compact and can cram a lot inside!. The house builder believes the compact iPad, which is a "real home" priced at £80,000, will sell like hot cakes. The company plans to build at least 1,000 of them every year.

The first 30 iPads are near completion in Middlesbrough, starting at around £80,000; they are unfurnished but include kitchen appliances. Another 170 are soon to be built on six other sites and so far there are another 1,600 in the pipeline on 40 sites across the country. Closer to London, the starting price will be around £100,000. "Our iPad homes are not 'bed-sits' or micro flats - they are proper homes that will enable a lot of first-time buyers to take their first steps into home ownership," says Pretty.

There is already competition from other house builders as demand will inevitably bring more developers into this burgeoning market. Good for first time buyers, which are the driver for the whole housing market.

More information from Barratt Homes.

Author: David Wilkinson

New copavt home being developed by major house builders. Barrat Homes are one of the first to address the need for affordable homes.

Published on 7/4/2006.

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