Alderley Edge gets a luxury bungalow

The word ‘bungalow’ conjures up images of retired gentlefolk moving to St Annes to while away their old age. Hillcrest Homes are aiming to alter that perception with a new take on the bungalow in footballer central, Alderley Edge.

Situated in the capital of Cheshire’s Golden Triangle, it will naturally come with a hefty price tag – £1.75m to be precise.

But isn’t a bungalow a bit unfashionable for an area where even the dog wears Prada? Not so, say Hillcrest, who are intent on what they describe as 'attitude adjusting' with regard to bungalows. Apparently, the concept of the bungalow originated in India and was adopted by bohemian fashionistas in Britain in the late nineteenth century. It only slipped down the social scale in the 1920s when a rash of cheap imitations sprung up.

Architects Calderpeel have designed the re-invention. Called Chantreys, it will be set within a walled garden lined with mature trees and will feature large expanses of glass in coloured frames.

Any resident of Alderley Edge will need space to house their 4x4 (when they’re not smugly driving it along the icy roads) so the bungalow will have a separate double garage featuring a Sedum living roof.

It will also feature all the footballers’ must-haves – media room by Bose, bathroom by Villeroy & Boch, kitchen by Poggenpohl and, of course, an indoor heated swimming pool by French pool designer, Piscinelle. There's also four bedrooms, a study and a sauna.

Well, so far, so predictable, but there is one feature that may surprise you – the addition of a second floor within the southern wing. If we’re being pedantic, that would seem to negate the whole point of a bungalow. Still, this is Cheshire where nothing succeeds like excess. So you get a further 1,000 square feet described by Hillcrest as a 'homeowner’s haven'. This houses the master bedroom, private balcony, media room, bathroom and dressing room.

Hillcrest MD Mike Kennedy says, “Chantreys draws more parallels with the Australian or American interpretation of ‘bungalow’ than the British. It is glamorous, innovative and very stylish with accommodation that flows to unite each of the living spaces.”