<p><span>Seventy per cent of over 65s would consider moving into a bungalow, but the build rate of this house type is “plummeting”, according to research from retirement housebuilder McCarthy Stone.</span></p> <p><span>This level of interest in bungalow living is up from 60% in 2019 and equal to 8.4 million people, an increase of 1.2 million from 2019. </span></p> <p><span>According to McStone’s research, “demand for one-level living is on the rise,” perhaps driven by the effects of the pandemic and the wish to move to more suitable accommodation, “including bungalows”. </span></p> <p><span>Yet, the figures showed, only 1,833 new bungalows were built in 2020, a 23% drop against 2019, representing less than 1% of new homes built. </span></p> <p><span>The data also highlighted the long term decline in bungalow building, with 2020’s total an 80% decrease on the 9,347 bungalows built in 2000. </span></p> <p><span>The research also found that 71% of over-65s thought that more bungalows should be built for older people, against the 65% of 2019. </span></p> <p><span>“Multiple factors” were driving the increased appetite for bungalows. These include the desire to live on one level (57% of research respondents), the easier maintenance (43%) and being much better suited to older people than conventional …