Third of millennials want to live in eco-friendly housing, report says

Almost a third of millennials would like to live in an eco-friendly home, according to a new research report by Eurocell.

Their ‘Future Home’ report surveyed 1,000 25-40-year olds who were asked questions on a range of issues including their homeownership prospects, attitudes towards sustainability credentials in future homes, views on building design and the impact on well-being, as well as their views on how homes could be made more affordable.

When asked about the most appealing design trends they’d want in their home, respondents identified an eco-friendly home (29%), open plan living (24%) as the top two most appealing, with floor to ceiling windows and a minimalist look coming joint third with 23%.

When asked further about their attitudes to eco-friendly building and design, 49% of respondents said they would be more likely to buy or rent an eco-conscious home.

However, despite this interest, only 24% said they would be willing to pay more money when buying or renting a property with eco-features.

Eurocell then invited a team of industry experts, including architects and developers, to analyse the findings and provide their views on how the construction sector could deliver the homes that future owners and occupiers desire.

These include architects at Hawkins Brown, Simpson Haugh and BDP, as well as property developer The High Street Group. They identified five trends that are currently defining the future design of homes, including a more advanced PRS model and a shift towards modular housing.

Chris Coxon, head of marketing at Eurocell, commented: ‘As the UK is currently in the middle of a housing crisis and is seeking to build 300,000 homes a year for the next decade, we wanted to gain insight into the homes that owners and renters want to live in, to provide the construction sector with a resource that will help them shape homes that people desire.

‘The Future Home Report incorporates what homeowners hope to see, with the insight of a team of experts, to provide a balanced whitepaper that can help influence how future homes are designed and built.’

Read the report here.