Newness and quality are not high priorities for people choosing to buy new homes, according to a recent report from the Rowntree Foundation. The opportunity to buy low density suburban homes as well as price and the lack of a buying chain were instead found to be key factors in buyers’ decisions. The research by Heriot-Watt University on why people buy new also found that internal and external design are important factors, buyers prefer more bedrooms even if these are smaller, and the quality or design of new homes is often considered unsatisfactory. Large properties should be built at higher densities to encourage people into urban rather than suburban settings, concluded researchers. Further information on the JRF Findings report can be found at www.jrf.org.uk