Live/work units are the new buzzword in architecture, and commuters are turning their back on the daily grind to adopt designer lifestyles.

In the 19th Century, many people lived cheek-by-jowl with their place of work. With the dawn of the car, there was an exodus to the clean air of the suburbs. Now the tide is turning again.

When James Oliver bought a live/work unit in Gloucester Yard, within Brighton's North Laine, he was single, setting up his own business and wanted to live in the thick of things.

After living in London and commuting each day, it was just what he needed.

However, two years on, the house has come into its own in another way - he is now a father and can mix family and work life under the same roof.

He said: "I moved here in 2001. I couldn't afford the mortgage on my own so I rented out a couple of the bedrooms to mates and slept in the back room of the office.

"Then I met my girlfriend Phoebe and, in 2002, she moved in with her daughter, Poppy, who's six. We're getting married next year."

On Thursday, the family expanded to four as Phoebe gave birth to their daughter Nancy.

He said: "I love it here. One of the best things is there's no commuting.

"I used to live in London and, even though it was only a half-hour commute on the Tube, it was a nightmare.

"I've got friends and family who commute a full hour and a half, which is insane.

"My dad saw what a good set-up I had here and followed me down from London.

"He bought the house opposite and has set up his own public relations firm, Oliver Relations, with my wife-to-be and my sister, Sarah.

"You can choose your hours of work and, because of the beauty of the design, you can keep work and home separate if you need to.

"Now, with Phoebe, Poppy and Nancy here, I've discovered a whole other side to live/work houses. Family life is great and being able to be involved day-to-day, first with Poppy and now with Nancy, is fantastic."

Since live/work units first appeared in Brighton and Hove three years ago, planning permission has been granted for 27 in the city.

The West Group has just been granted planning permission to create a further 19 in the old Co-op warehouse on Holland Road, Hove, the biggest development so far.

Developer Josh Arghiros, head of Karis, designed the city's first live/work set up in Gloucester Yard, off Gloucester Road in Brighton's North Laine.

The eight four-storey houses, arranged around a courtyard, were completed in late 2000 and are lived in by a mix of public relations companies, artists and developers.

Mr Arghiros said: "It just seemed right at the time. A lot of small businesses like to live above the shop, as it were, and there was a shortage of commercial properties in the area."

Julian Beresford, of Strutt and Parker, is the agent for Q Property's conversion of the Old Maynard's Sweet Factory on Stoneham Road.

The seven live/work units are now all under offer and have sold to people with a range of uses in mind.

Mr Beresford said: "Live/work units are a fairly recent phenomenon.

"In Brighton, there aren't that many at the moment but I think they will catch on because they lend themselves to such a flexible range of businesses."

Monday September 29, 2003