For a long time, new residential developments followed a familiar formula: apartments above, a car park below, and little reason to spend time in the surrounding area.
Increasingly, that model is changing.
Across the UK's major cities, developers are creating mixed-use communities that combine homes with cafés, convenience stores, gyms, flexible workspaces, healthcare providers and other everyday services. Rather than existing as isolated residential blocks, these developments are designed to become part of the neighbourhood itself.
The shift reflects a broader change in how people choose where to live.
Convenience has become part of the property's value
For many residents, convenience is no longer viewed as a luxury. It has become an expectation.
Being able to collect groceries, grab a coffee before work, visit the gym or attend a medical appointment without relying on a car can make a meaningful difference to everyday life. These amenities influence not only where people choose to rent, but how long they choose to stay.
Research from JLL has found that walkability, access to amenities and well-designed public spaces are playing an increasingly important role in residential decision-making, particularly among younger professionals living in urban centres.
In other words, tenants are choosing neighbourhoods as much as they are choosing apartments.
Commercial spaces help create active neighbourhoods
Ground-floor commercial units also contribute to the wider character of a development.
An occupied café, independent bakery or neighbourhood convenience store creates regular footfall throughout the day, making streets feel more active and welcoming. That activity supports local businesses while encouraging people to spend more time in the area.
Urban designers often refer to this as creating an "active frontage", where buildings engage with the public realm rather than presenting blank walls or unused space. Active frontages have long been recognised as an important ingredient in successful city centres because they improve the experience of walking through a neighbourhood and encourage wider economic activity.
For residents, the benefit is often simple: a place feels lived in rather than simply built.
Flexible work is reshaping residential design
One of the biggest changes since the pandemic has been the rise of hybrid working.
While many people have returned to the office, millions now split their time between home and the workplace. That has increased demand for shared workspaces within residential developments.
Instead of working from a kitchen table or travelling into the city every day, residents can make use of dedicated co-working lounges, meeting rooms or quiet work areas within the building itself.
These shared facilities provide flexibility without requiring additional living space inside each apartment, making them particularly attractive in city-centre developments where efficient design is essential.
Better amenities can support stronger demand
The value of mixed-use developments extends beyond convenience.
Homes located within well-planned neighbourhoods often benefit from broader tenant appeal because they offer a lifestyle that extends beyond the apartment itself. Cafés, fitness facilities, local retail and community spaces all contribute to an environment that people actively choose to live in.
This does not mean every development needs dozens of commercial operators. What matters is that the mix of uses reflects genuine local demand and supports everyday life.
As cities continue to grow, developments that successfully combine residential living with carefully selected commercial space are likely to become increasingly common. Rather than treating shops and services as separate from housing, they are becoming part of what makes a neighbourhood successful in the first place.
The apartment may be where people live. Increasingly, it is the community around it that shapes where they choose to stay.
