Why are British houses so small ?

Question

London and the south east, yes I understand why they are small just to due to limited space in a highly populated area. However the further north you go into northern England and Scotland, there’s way more space to build bigger homes like there Australian and American counterparts. Yet all I see is newly built detached townhouses in a countryside. 

Answer 1

Land is expensive.

Answer 2

They also cost a lot more to heat

Answer 3

Not all of them. How about the ones on this link:

Answer 4

Because they suck 

Answer 5

Our countryside needs to be preserved for its agricultural and forestry value as well as its beauty enjoyed by millions. There is a big shortage of land in this small overcrowded country.Also housebuilders build small houses in order to secure the biggest profits possible

Answer 6

Large houses take up a large space of land. They are more expensive to build and heat and the Council tax is higher.

UK

Answer 7

It's the traditional size and it's all you need.  What do you need them bigger for?  There's less to clean and decorate, and bigger ones are too expensive.

Answer 8

It's a small country, and they've never felt the need for, or the realistic possibility of, spreading out the way Americans and Aussies have.  They also tend to LIKE the coziness of smaller homes.



There are, of course, some very big homes in the British countryside, but they are costly to maintain. The UK's economy isn't the best at the moment, so housing starts aren't going to comprise many larger homes.

Answer 9

I wondered the same thing in Ireland, which is just about as big as England (no the whole UK), but with a fraction of the population and they do that, too.  Apparently the Britons and Irish like to cozy up to one another, then maintain polite, but not exactly friendly with their neighbours.  (Irish people are noticeably friendlier than English people, though.)

Answer 10

Maybe a better question is why are American houses so big?  (you already answered your own question)

Answer 11

They're big.  Then look at the UK. Why do you think houses in the UK are smaller?

Answer 12

Look at Australia and the USA.  They're big.  Then look at the UK. Why do you think houses in the UK are smaller?

Answer 13

An island with limited land, which is very expensive, houses that are built to last so epensive to build, run and keep warm....... as well as tradition on home sizes, families are small(er) and people are educated to understand NEED and not want



Australia and America are huge continents, with lots of land, which is very cheap and buildings are built cheaply too, using the same materials and  in the same way as the UK build garden sheds to put bikes and lawnmowers in

Answer 14

Heat.

Large spaces require fuel to heat.

Only the mega rich could afford, or need to show off, their wealth



You may also note, that houses in the U.K. are generally Stone, Brick and Mortar whereas in the U.S. they are most always Wood framed.

Answer 15

I think it is because they have always been so small and people are used to it. When people populated the colonies they had much more space to play with, so they built everything bigger. 

Also it costs more to build, heat and maintain a bigger house and being thrifty, the scots especially probably enjoy lower heaitng bills.