Category: Haymarket

More student accommodation planned for Murieston Crescent

Maven Capital Partners, a leading UK property and private equity manager, has purchased a site at Murieston Crescent for the development of a purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) complex.

The site, which was acquired for £2.8 million, is situated in a prime location close to Haymarket in Edinburgh’s West End, and strategically placed for Heriot-Watt, Napier and Edinburgh universities. Situated only 1.1 miles from Princes Street, Murieston Crescent has all amenities within walking distance and benefits from strong transport links.

Maven has taken Murieston Crescent through the full planning process with permission now granted for a 120-bed PBSA development, comprising of 108 studio apartments and 12 ensuite cluster flats over six floors. The development is estimated to cost £15 million with a practical completion targeted for summer 2022.

Maven says there remains an acute shortage of purpose built accommodation for students in Edinburgh. It is estimated that around 60% of Edinburgh’s full-time student population are unable to access either university provided or private purpose built student accommodation.

Maven has extensive experience in the PBSA sector where it has developed, asset managed and operated properties across the UK, including Glasgow, Dundee, Durham, Liverpool and Birmingham. 

It was also the asset manager for Mill Hill, a 257-bed student accommodation complex on Gorgie Road, Edinburgh, which was sold for £25.1 million in 2018. The Murieston Crescent transaction represents Maven’s 14th PBSA development, totalling over 2,000 beds.

Colin Anderson, Partner at Maven, said: “The PBSA sector has a history of low volatility and, despite the wider macro-economic issues which have resulted from the COVID-19 crisis, we are continuing to see strong student sentiment to continue their education with an increase in applications this year to UK universities and colleges according to UCAS data.

“We are confident that any uncertainties around academic start dates will only have a short-term impact while markets normalise and, once global travel restrictions lift, we will once again see the UK, and in particular Edinburgh, as one of the world’s most popular hotspots for overseas students.”

“Our design team is currently reviewing various Covid related augmentations such as contactless entry and filtered ventilation systems to ensure the building is a safe and secure environment for its residents.”

Will Scarlett of Scarlett Land and Development, who acted for the Seller, commented: “SLD are delighted to have completed this transaction on behalf of The Route Finance which has required patience and tenacity by both parties.

“This is one of several PBSA deals brokered by SLD at the current time that demonstrate that the Edinburgh market remains solid for the right site in the right location”.

Ultimate One-bedroom City Apartment Hits the Market

AN EXCLUSIVE one-bedroom apartment has been released for sale at the capital’s most sought-after new development.

CALA Homes (East) has seen huge demand for properties at The Crescent at Donaldson’s, now releasing the final available homes in the west wing – including the ultimate pied-a-terre, 3/16 Donaldson Crescent.

On the market for £680,000, the elegant spilt-level first floor apartment enjoys a prime position in the development and boasts a generous master bedroom with an en suite and a walk-in wardrobe space.

The one bedroom apartment’s sweeping glass frontage stretches from the kitchen through to the dining and living space providing near uninterrupted views towards Edinburgh’s sublime skyline.

A unique feature of the property is the mezzanine office space which provides impeccable views of the iconic Donaldson’s estate.

What makes living at The Crescent truly unique within central Edinburgh, however, is the tranquil setting within the 18-acre Donaldson’s estate – the capital’s largest communal garden.

Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director with CALA Homes (East), said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to set up home in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable locations.

“The one-bedroom apartment offers everything you could need for contemporary city living and more, being so closely situated to all of the attractions, landmarks, restaurants and bars in the capital.

“This elegant split-level apartment showcases the magnificent design and architecture displayed throughout this development, as well as the breath-taking views across the city.

“However, it also enjoys a peacefully secluded location within the Donaldson’s estate, with gardens and grounds on the doorstep and the treelined rear of the development. So you really have the best of both worlds.

“We’d urge those interested to act quickly as there are only two one-bedroom apartments in each wing and so far they have been a huge hit with buyers.”

CALA’s The Crescent has also achieved widespread industry acclaim and has been recognised with multiple awards for the ambitious design, cutting-edge architecture and premium showhomes since launch earlier this year.

With prices ranging from £595,000 to £1,750,000, the properties at The Crescent comprise some of the most prestigious new builds currently on offer in Edinburgh.

Designed by renowned architect, Richard Murphy OBE, the sweeping arc of 84 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses is a modern interpretation of Georgian architecture.

It is home to the most comprehensive electric vehicle charging provision in Scotland, where every apartment has access to a charging point and parking space in the private underground car park, accessible by lift access.

Just one mile west of Princes Street, The Crescent has a variety of amenities on the doorstep with excellent transport links both into and out of the city.

Two show apartments are open daily from 11am to 5.30pm. For more information, please visit: https://www.cala.co.uk/homes-for-sale/east-of-scotland/the-crescent-at-donaldsons or call 0131 341 2667.

CALA’s Mark triumphs at London awards

AN EDINBURGH project manager has won a top industry accolade at a prestigious national awards ceremony in London.

Mark Foley, of CALA Homes (East) took home the esteemed “Multi-Storey Building” award after representing Scotland at the National House Building Council (NHBC) Pride in the Job Supreme Awards, at the Park Plaza Hotel in Westminster.

This year’s judging process began with the assessment of thousands of site and project managers from across the UK and culminated in only four Supreme Award winners.

Mark, 49, faced tough competition from projects in York, Poole and London but his work on the UNESCO-accredited site, The Crescent at Donaldson’s, stood out against his competitors.

This success follows Mark’s win in the qualifying heats of the NHBC ‘Pride in the Job’ Quality Awards in July and Regional Awards in October 2019, after impressing a team of inspectors during a series of rigorous and unscheduled visits to the development.

As well as undergoing spot checks of the day-to-day running of their sites, each Site Manager is assessed across 37 different areas of site management, including technical knowledge, quality and consistency.

Mark is CALA’s most decorated project manager with 13 Pride in the Job awards, alongside nine Seal of Excellences and two regional awards.

Mark said: “Delivering excellent quality for customers is what most site teams strive for and for our work at The Crescent to be recognised by the NHBC at the Supreme Awards is a real privilege and without doubt, the highlight of my career.

“Having the opportunity to work on such a prestigious site, with this level of architectural design, makes it all the more exciting.

“While my name is on the award, I want to make sure that it is appreciated how much of a team effort this is, and it couldn’t have been achieved without the amazing team I have working alongside me.

“I was immensely proud of the whole team at the Regional awards, but to make it to the Supreme Awards, and come out victorious, is a dream come true.”

Kevin Whitaker, Chief Executive Officer of CALA Homes, said: “The Pride in the Job awards recognise the industry’s best site managers and the exceptional contribution they make in creating homes of outstanding quality.

“The Supreme Award is the very highest accolade that a site manager can receive and we are extremely proud of Mark for this fantastic achievement.

“This award doesn’t just represent success for Mark, however, but for the entire team at CALA Homes East, who all play a vital role in ensuring that this unique and complex architectural design is delivered safely and to the highest quality standards for not only our customers, but also the wider Edinburgh community, on what is a very important site for the City.”

Steve Wood, NHBC Chief Executive, said: “Through Pride in the Job, NHBC has been celebrating the best of the best in house building for almost 40 years.

“There is no doubt that these awards have been instrumental in driving up the quality of new homes and results show that Pride in the Job winning sites have higher levels of customer satisfaction.

“The final stage of this competition is tough, so to earn the highest accolade of Supreme winner a site manager must have successfully managed a wide range of competing demands and challenges.

“Their determination and success in achieving excellence deserves recognition. More importantly, site managers like Mark are creating high quality outstanding homes that their customers can have confidence in – they are building the future. Congratulations, Mark.”

Designed by architect, Richard Murphy OBE, The Crescent mirrors the curve of the traditional New Town homes it finds itself inspired by.

Situated in the tranquil grounds of the iconic Donaldson’s estate, homes at The Crescent offer the convenience of capital living with an authentic rural feel with expansive views of the Pentland Hills.

The final remaining homes in the development’s west wing have not long been available and offer a range of sizes – from one-bedroom apartments to a deluxe penthouse – to cater for any potential buyers from £595,000 – £1,750,000.

For more information, or to register interest in the Crescent development visit: www.cala.co.uk/the-crescent or call 0131 341 2667.

The Crescent comes alive with first apartments all sold

THE MOST upmarket collection of new apartments to launch in Scotland’s recent history has become a fully-fledged community, with the first “core” fully sold and buyers moving in.  

Launched by CALA Homes (East), The Crescent at Donaldson’s is a bold and sweeping arc of glass-fronted apartments – with current availability priced from £975,000 to £1,750,000. Continue reading The Crescent comes alive with first apartments all sold

Edinburgh’s most expensive apartment now available for rent

A £1.7m penthouse – the jewel in the crown of The Crescent by CALA Homes (East), a luxury development within Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – is now available to rent.

It is anticipated the three-bedroom apartment, which overlooks Donaldson’s School, will be available for upwards of £5k per month.  Continue reading Edinburgh’s most expensive apartment now available for rent

New hotel opening creates affordable Edinburgh Fringe stays

Point A Hotels has released rooms for sale in its newest hotel in Edinburgh, meaning that nearly 4000 hotel nights will be newly available over the busy Edinburgh Fringe period, August 2nd – August 25th.

The Point A Hotel Edinburgh, will open on Monday (8th July) and as a special offer upon opening, the hotel will be offering a 20% discount for direct bookings on PointAHotels.com*.

The latest addition to the Point A Hotels budget boutique brand, Point A Edinburgh, will bring low-priced stylish rooms to the centre of the Scottish capital – the most visited destination in the UK outside of London – in time for the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Point A Edinburgh is located close to Haymarket Station, with 149 guest rooms (including 8 accessible rooms) and some featuring breath-taking views over Edinburgh’s iconic buildings.

It will feature a spacious, 24-hour hosted reception and a lobby lounge, where Point A’s signature Brekkie will be served daily, and refreshments will be available 24/7. It will also have an extended food and beverage offering that includes pre-mixed alcoholic drinks and miniatures offered for sale at the bar and hot food in the lounge including a selection of pizzas and chicken wings.

Within the new Edinburgh property, there will be free, superfast WiFi throughout the public areas and the guest rooms, which also feature luxury Hypnos beds with fabric headboards and throws from the Isle of Bute, power showers, mood lighting and a 43-inch Samsung Smart TV, with Google Chromecast which allows customers to watch their own content on the hotel TV, providing a home from home experience.

“Our Edinburgh hotel will be beautifully designed offering our guests a sense of style without a huge price tag,” commented Nic Wenn, Managing Director, Point A Hotels. “It is located centrally and will give those wishing to attend the Edinburgh Fringe easy access to catch one of the many great performances across the city.”

Guests of Point A Edinburgh will be able to take advantage of extra-value offers and deals at local bars and restaurants through Point A Hotels’ free-to-join signature loyalty programme, the A-List. Guests can sign up to the A-List at pointahotels.com to also receive a permanent 10% off all future bookings at any Point A Hotel.

The newest hotel will join Point A Hotels’ existing portfolio of seven modern, centrally-located UK hotels offering guests exceptional service and comfort at affordable prices. Six of the Point A Hotels are in London – Shoreditch, Liverpool Street, King’s Cross St Pancras, Paddington, Westminster and Canary Wharf – and one is in Glasgow, Scotland. A further hotel in London is due to open this summer in Kensington, located on West Cromwell Road.

* 20% discount applies to bookings for stays in July and August 2019 at Point A Edinburgh only with the discount code LAUNCH and made viawww.PointAHotels.com 

Neighbourhood Networks: exciting new chapter for community planning?

Community groups, voluntary sector organisations and local councillors will come together across the city this month for the inaugural meetings of the new Neighbourhood Networks. Continue reading Neighbourhood Networks: exciting new chapter for community planning?

Exclusive development unveils Scotland’s largest electric vehicle provision

A MAJOR developer is “plugging in” to the surging demand for electric vehicles (EVs) by creating the most comprehensive charging provision of any development built to date in Scotland. Continue reading Exclusive development unveils Scotland’s largest electric vehicle provision

Edinburgh’s budget: still time to have your say

There’s still time to share your views on the City Council’s draft council change strategy and proposals for the 2019/20 budget.  Continue reading Edinburgh’s budget: still time to have your say