Bungalows – from 'bangla' meaning in the Bengal style – have come a very long way from their days answering the accommodation needs of officials during the British Raj.

The single-storey homes became popular in the UK towards the end of the 19th century and mushroomed between the wars as part of a quick fix for the country’s housing shortage. By the time I started out in estate agency nearly 40 years ago they were firmly established as a retirement favourite. The absence of stairs was part of their appeal, but older buyers were also attracted by the fact that many of the 'bungalow hotspots' were located in the coastal areas in which they had spent their childhood holidays.

Today, the call of the not-so-humble bungalow is being heard by new generation of house hunters. One attraction is that because bungalows were built at a time when land in desirable areas was comparatively cheap, they tend to be set in large plots. With building plots hard to find nowadays, remodelling a bungalow, subject to any planning restrictions, can be a great alternative for buyers looking to build their own family home.

Equally, with their typically generous footprint, bungalows also offer younger buyers a springboard to creating their very own contemporary, flexible Grand Design. For them, lateral living is not only convenient, it's highly desirable, too.