THEY were one the preserve of wealthy merchants and gentry, but York’s latest townhouses are being brought into the 21st century.

The newly built townhouses at the Hungate development, an urban village in the heart of York, boast contemporary interiors, excellent eco- friendly ratings and a beautiful, quiet setting.

Built from classic brick and local stone, each has four or five bedrooms, a study, a living room, a versatile family room, four storeys and views over the city centre and the River Foss.

They also have their own undercroft parking spaces.

Hungate sales and marketing director Martina Collins said townhouses were a York tradition, with Fairfax House, in Castlegate, described as the finest example of a Georgian townhouse in England.

Meanwhile, privately-owned listed townhouses in central York can command seven-figure prices.

The site also has its own history, having once housed Viking settlers and medieval York merchants.

The townhouses in Hungate are set in a ten-acre site within the city walls.

The River Foss nature reserve provides an urban oasis with swans, ducks and occasional kingfishers, and it is at the centre of York’s network of footpaths and cycle routes.

Inside, the homes boast custom-made kitchens and luxurious bathrooms, en-suites and cloakrooms fitted with Villeroy and Boch sanitaryware.

Martina says sales at Hungate have blossomed since completion of the new homes and landscaping this summer, and new residents have brought the area to life.

“The combination of traditional York townhouse life and modern urban living in such an historic location, with distinctive shops, restaurants and cultural attractions and also having good schools within close reach, has made Hungate’s townhouses an attractive proposition,” she said.

“Townhouses are only available in the recently completed first phase of the Hungate development and we are getting interest from people from throughout the UK as well as the closer Yorkshire area.”

Prices of the Hungate townhouses range from £500,000 to £550,000. Part exchange may be available. Details of the development can be seen at hungateyork.com

For an appointment to view the showhouse, phone 01905 676797.