Between 1700 and 1940, basements were a regular feature in English homes. Used mainly for storing coal, basements gradually disappeared as a feature of modern homes as more and more properties were converted to central heating. Frances Roe investigates the return of the basement
Our European neighbours, such as France and Scandinavia, have continued to incorporate basements into the design of their homes, but with a difference. Advances in Swedish building technology have seen the development of X-concrete, an efficient and durable material used to build basements and originally designed to combat freezing winters in Sweden.
Developers Laing Homes have taken this technology and incorporated it into homes with basements in eight of the 17 properties at their Canons Gate development in Holyrood Crescent, St Albans.
Two pairs of semi-detached homes and a row of four terraced homes have basements built using X-concrete especially developed for the UK. The basements are fully waterproofed, insulated to conserve warmth and save on bills and despite being light-weight, are strong enough to build up to five stories above them.
It’s not just a saving on bills – basements increase the square footage of a home without swallowing up precious land.
Basement homes come with a garage, utility area and a fantastic opportunity to adapt the room into whatever you fancy. Leisure, music or games, storage for bikes or DIY tools, or make it into a gym, sauna, kid’s den, nanny or granny flat.
Above basement level all the homes feature a kitchen, living/dining rooms, three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Basement homes start at £239,995 and more information is available from Laing Homes on 020 8236 3814.