If some radical predictions come true, the office as we know it could become something of a rarity in years to come.

Working from home - teleworking to give it its fancy title - has developed from a trickle into a full-blown trend thanks to rapid advances in technology.

Some experts dub its one of the greatest lifestyle changes of the past decade.

New research suggests that three out of ten people could be working from home within the next two years.

The Helen Hamlyn Research Centre found that staff in a quarter of UK offices had serious complaints about their environment, such as poor lighting and air quality.

Britain currently leads the rest of Europe with one in five people sometimes working from home.

This compares to just one in 14 in the European Union as a whole.

With Britons work longer than their European counterparts, home working is seen as an increasingly attractive alternative to preserve a healthy work-life balance.

One problem is that many homes do not have the space to enable teleworking.

Seizing the opportunity, one Yorkshire building firm is getting in on the act and designing homes specifically for those who wish to opt out of the rat race, change lifestyle or just spend less time commuting.

Persimmon plc realised that many buyers were sold on the obvious benefits of three-storey homes. So the company has hit on the idea of re-designing properties to accommodate work spaces.

Houses which could assist a major lifestyle switch are to be built in Bradford, Riddlesden and Gilstead.

Persimmon's sales director for West Yorkshire, Sue Merritt, said: "We all get that end-of-the-week feeling when we just can't face another traffic jam or packed commuter train.

However, not everyone has dedicated office space to facilitate working and relaxing in the same property.

"The serious homeworker needs more than just a computer base and screen.

"Setting up an efficient home office requires lots of careful planning.

"However, a move into a three-storey home with dedicated space readily available, takes all the hassle out of renovating a room in an older property."

The three-storey Pateley home in Riddlesden is priced at £176,995 and offers a study or third bedroom on the third floor.

Ms Merritt added: "Teleworking offers obvious practical benefits - no more frantic journeys to and from the office, no getting embroiled in office politics and the ability to work at your own time and pace."