The NEN – North Edinburgh News – Page 498 – The community media resource for north Edinburgh

Sales launching at landmark Edinburgh development

Luxury homes at renowned capital location coming to market

HOMEBUYERS looking to move to one of Edinburgh’s best-known buildings will soon have their chance to secure a luxury property in the heart of the city.

Square & Crescent will launch sales for its anticipated Royal Meadows development next month – which will comprise of a mix of premium townhouses and apartments carefully restored in and around the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children building.

Occupying an outstanding location on the edge of The Meadows, one of Edinburgh’s most famous parks, this unique development will include a mix of one, two, and three bedroom apartments, four bedroom penthouses and four and five bedroom townhouses.

The high-quality homes sit on a four-acre site directly opposite The Meadows, one of Edinburgh’s best-known landmarks, and lie between Sciennes Road and Rillbank Crescent.

Euan Marshall, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director said: “We’ve recognised from day one that taking on a building that has so much history and profile is a major responsibility – and one that our team has embraced.

“To get to this stage has taken a huge amount of craftsmanship, but the result is homes that will be beautiful and characterful at a location that will offer buyers the very best of Edinburgh.

“We’re really thrilled to be able to bring the first homes to market in the coming weeks.”

The Royal Meadows sales suite is set to open next month, with phase one including the sales launch of 22 properties from a one-bedroom apartment to a five-bedroom three storey townhouse. Construction on the residential development is set to be fully completed in around two years from now.

Nestled in the heart of Marchmont and The Grange area of Edinburgh, the Royal Meadows development is well-connected – just one mile from Princes Street and a short walk from Lothian Road.

The premium residential developer also recently announced a fitting charity partnership with Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity (ECHC) – which helps seriously ill babies, children and young people in Edinburgh and the Lothians by supporting their medical care, mental health and family’s wellbeing. ECHC’s former headquarters is one of the buildings being converted as part of the major Royal Meadows development.

Simon Cook, Co-Founder and Joint Managing Director said: “We appreciate that the hospital building itself means a lot of different things to a lot of different people and that’s why it’s important for us to carefully restore it as we respect its history and look to do the building justice. Thanks to the ongoing dedication of the team and skilled local contractors for their commitment in the restoration.

“This important milestone marks a major chapter in the development timeline. It won’t be long until people can enjoy their new homes at Royal Meadows.”

Square & Crescent is a widely regarded residential developer with a primary focus on the acquisition and development of historic buildings into beautiful homes.

It has built a strong track record and trusted reputation in providing some of the best residential conversion projects over the past 10 years, making a move in recent years into developing unique new build homes, providing exceptional and sustainable modern living in a variety of different locations within Edinburgh.

For more information on Royal Meadows, or to register interest, visit the development website www.royalmeadows.co.uk or call 07586 129184.

From Football Fields to Funeral Homes: A young Scot’s unexpected career journey

Bruce encourages young people to embrace unexpected career paths

Bruce Lamb (19) has joined the funeral industry and is encouraging other young people to keep an open mind when considering their career choices.

Broxburn-based Bruce works alongside his father at Scotmid Funerals in Forrester Park, where his role includes preparing coffins, ceremonial driving and speaking with recently bereaved family members. No two days are the same for Bruce, something he has described as “one of the best parts of the job”.

After finishing school, Bruce pursued a football scholarship in Virginia, USA but, when that did not work out, he returned home to reconsider his options and choose another path.

As a young boy, Bruce was fascinated by his father’s job. He learned a lot about grief and the whole funeral experience from him, including how to approach the first conversation, managing the service arrangements and aftercare, and how this process helps the bereaved.

When the opportunity to join Scotmid Funerals at Forrester Park came, he jumped at the chance and is so pleased he did.

When asked what people’s reaction is to his job, Bruce answered: “Most people are taken aback to start with and quickly fire a lot of questions at me about the job. When I explain how much I enjoy my work, I receive a positive reaction.”

“I agree that it is unusual for someone my age, but Scotmid has broken the mould. I don’t mind being the youngest because l can learn so much from experienced operatives. Everyone at Scotmid has been great in helping me to be the best I can be in my post.”

Since starting his new role, Bruce has grown a strong satisfaction from his work. He said: “The best part of the job is receiving compliments or a thank you card from a bereaved persons’ relative or loved one.

“This is by far the most welcome reward in doing the job and I’m honoured to play a small role in helping others during their time of need. It’s a long way from what I originally planned to do with my life, but I can’t imagine being anywhere else now.

“I think the biggest misconception is that all funeral workers must be sad (or a little strange?!) to do the job, which is so far from the truth. There is compassion and humour within the industry, with each having their time and place.”

Bruce is now aiming to tackle this common misconception about the funeral industry and is encouraging other young people to keep an open mind when it comes to their career choices.

He continued: “I think the industry is often overlooked because schools do not promote it as a potential career. I would and have recommended the job to a few of my friends and would heartily encourage any younger person to go for it.

“I wanted to be a footballer, but I have joined the funeral industry instead. I may be going against ‘the norm’, which I think is great as it changes the definition of the role.”

Outside of work, Bruce enjoys an active lifestyle – playing for his local football team, Pumpherston u20s, and playing golf when he has free time. Sports, as well as his Xbox, gives him time to unwind after work and spend time with friends.

James Blackburn, Head of Scotmid Funerals, said: “It’s great to see the younger generations coming into the funeral care industry and taking such pride in their work for people in their time of grief.

“Bruce is a great example of embracing the fact that there is no wrong career path and I hope other young people consider funeral care as a personally and professionally rewarding career choice.”

EV Adopters urge those considering making the switch to to their homework

MotorEasy survey finds the cost and practicalities of charging remain a significant challenge for EV owners

New figures reveal that sales of used battery electric cars almost doubled last year, with a record 119,000 of the vehicles changing hands^*.

However, despite increasing numbers of motorists making the switch, a new survey of MotorEasy members has revealed that continuing challenges with the cost of charging, access to public charging and the apps used to facilitate charging are damaging the ownership electric vehicle (EV) experience.

Over half of survey respondents expressed frustrations with battery range and one in four said energy costs for recharging are a worry. However, the biggest ownership hurdles for owners are access to public charging (73%) and the practicalities of using these chargers (71%), including the multitude of apps supposedly designed to ease charging (65%). The rapid and much-publicised depreciation of used EVs has also left 65% of owners worried about the loss of value in their EV.

“Although the number of EVs on UK roads is accelerating, our membership survey strongly confirms that the accessibility of EV charging still has a long way to go,” commented Duncan McClure Fisher, CEO of Intelligent Motoring, the parent company of MotorEasy.

“Almost three-quarters of the EV drivers we surveyed have experienced difficulties with accessing and using the infrastructure.

“As a result, EV owners advised those considering the switch to prioritise the installation of a home charger to save both time and money. Experienced owners also suggest new buyers research energy providers and take advantage of nighttime charging tariffs wherever possible, to make powering up even more cost-effective.”

Over 22% also said that service, maintenance and repair costs are putting a strain on finances, with 25% of drivers claiming to have faced challenges finding a qualified garage or technician to conduct service, maintenance or repair work.

Duncan McClure Fisher continued: “With high voltage systems and advanced technology onboard, technicians working on EVs need to have the right training, which can mean EV owners may not be able to use their usual garage.

“However, a little research should identify a qualified EV technician locally or check out the Institute of the Motor Industry’s Professional Register which lists TechSafe-accredited technicians.

“It is vital that owners have the assurance that their vehicle is suitably maintained by a qualified professional and safe to drive.”

EV adopters – two essential points of advice

Choose carefully – do your research on different makes and models, take a test drive, do not be swayed by an enthusiastic salesperson, and prioritise range by opting for the vehicle with the longest range you can afford.
Get a home charger – it’s a more cost and time-efficient way of charging. Consider your expected usage and charging requirements, and don’t leap into having an expensive fast charger installed – you may not need it if you can charge slowly overnight using a three-pin plug and relevant adapter and cable provided with the car.

*Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT)

Enterprise Mobility and National Literacy Trust donate over 800 books to children across Edinburgh as book ownership falls to five-year low

Children at ten Edinburgh schools will receive copies of Onkyeka and the Academy of the Sun
Young people from less advantaged backgrounds twice as likely to not have any books at home
Part of larger initiative distributing 25,000 books across the UK

Enterprise Mobility and the National Literacy Trust launch their third year of partnership by donating 820 books to children at 10 schools in Edinburgh. This donation is part of a larger initiative distributing 25,000 books across the UK.

This comes amid findings from the National Literacy Trust that book ownership is at a five-year low among children and young people, with those from less advantaged backgrounds twice as likely to not have any books at home.

Tolá Okogwu’s Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun was chosen for this book drive. This captivating tale featuring a Black protagonist aims to promote diverse representation in children’s literature, allowing young readers to see themselves reflected in the stories they read and providing a glimpse into the lives and experiences of those who may be from different backgrounds.

Accompanying the book donations are free classroom resources and videos hosted by Cbeebies presenter Gyasi Sheppy and actress Sarah Lewis Obuba.

Recipient primary schools in Edinburgh include: Balgreen, Canal View, Clovenstone, Niddrie Mill, Pirniehall, Castleview, Windygoul, Gracemount, Craigour Park and Gilmerton.

Jason Vit, Head of Local Areas at the National Literacy Trust, emphasised the importance of fostering a love for reading among children: “Engaging children in the joy and fun of reading is an essential part of building those key literacy skills that will help them thrive at school, and for the rest of their lives.

“At the National Literacy Trust, we work across the UK in places facing the biggest challenges, including literacy levels. Through our partnership with Enterprise Mobility, we can reach more children who need the most support and fire their imaginations and love of reading with thrilling books like Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun.”

Ryan Johnson, Managing Director for the UK and Ireland at Enterprise Mobility, said: “At Enterprise Mobility, we’re committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and we recognise the profound impact that access to books can have on a child’s development and future opportunities.

“Through our partnership with the National Literacy Trust, we are addressing the concerning decline in book ownership among children across the UK. Together, we are working to inspire young minds, promote diversity in literature, and empower children to unlock their full potential through reading.”

Through their partnership, Enterprise Mobility and the National Literacy Trust have now donated approximately 75,000 books to children across the UK, fostering a brighter future through the power of literature.

This project is made possible by Enterprise Mobility’s global ROAD Forward initiative, a £43 million commitment over five years aimed at advancing social and racial equity in communities worldwide, launched in 2020.

Holyrood Committee launches inquiry into housing crisis

A Holyrood Committee will return from the February recess next week to begin a short inquiry into the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 strategy.

Holyrood’s Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee will start a short inquiry on Tuesday (20th February) with a roundtable of representatives from the Strategy Board for Housing to 2040 to probe progress on the Scottish Government strategy and route map.

The second evidence session, currently planned for the 27th of February, will see further roundtable discussions with stakeholders including Living Rent, Communities Housing Trust, Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, Property Federation, Shelter, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Citizens Advice Scotland, and Professor Ken Gibb from the University of Glasgow, to provide the Committee with additional views on Scotland’s housing landscape.

Published in March 2021, the strategy seeks to deliver on the Scottish Government’s ambition for everyone to have a safe, good quality and affordable home that meets their needs in the place they want to be.

However, three years after the plan’s publication, statistics show that Scotland’s housing emergency is intensifying.

Decreases have been reported in the number of new homes of all tenures being started and completed, with Scottish Government figures for the year to the end of September 2023 revealing a 6% fall in all sector completions and that starts are down by 24%.

With falling numbers of new homes being built and completed across several local authorities in recent months, a growing number have declared housing emergencies as building rates stall.

Commenting, Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee Convener, Ariane Burgess MSP said: “Scotland’s housing emergency continues to grow, and the Committee want to understand what impact this is having on the ambitions set out by the Scottish Government’s Housing to 2040 strategy and whether the strategy provides the necessary tools to adequately respond.

“Our short inquiry will allow us to look at the strategies effectiveness in meeting housing needs, promoting placemaking, ensuring accessibility and affordability, fostering sustainability, and guaranteeing safety and quality.

“Everyone should have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing which can deliver thriving communities for generations to come in every part of Scotland and we hope our scrutiny of Scottish Government plans can ensure this aspiration remains on track.”

Tree Planting Event: 16 March

SUNDAY 16 MARCH from 11am – 1pm

Lauriston Agroecology Farm

Interested in supporting local biodiversity whilst spending a great morning outdoors?

Let’s plant some trees and have some fun!

Get in touch with us at c3r@elrec.org.uk for more details and to register!

Linlithgow lad celebrates Local Legend tag by Specsavers as he rises through refereeing ranks

A LINLITHGOW referee has received the accolade of ‘Local Legend’ as part of Specsavers’ partnership with the Scottish FA.

With thousands of people giving up their time each week across the country to ensure their community can enjoy football, the Local Legends campaign aims to shine a light on the unsung heroes dedicated to grassroots football.

Cameron Stirling, from Linlithgow, has been recognised as a Local Legend for his dedication to refereeing and for promoting officiating to youngsters as a route for development within football.

At just 21, Cameron is a category three referee, balancing officiating Lowland League games with his studies at Edinburgh Napier University.

The business management and marketing student is also a Youth Referee Ambassador, starting out in refereeing at just 16, making the senior list at 17, and hopes to one day officiate a game in the Scottish Premiership.

Speaking upon receiving the award, Cameron said, ‘I’ve played football pretty much my whole life and just love the game.

‘It’s very nice to be recognised and I’m honoured to receive it, especially when the nomination came from my peers in the referees’ department.’

From Stranraer to Banks O’ Dee, Cameron has already travelled the length and breadth of the country as both a referee and a linesman.

His passion for the game comes from growing up playing football, but now hopes refereeing can provide him with a path to the top.

As part of his recognition, last November Cameron enjoyed a day out at Hampden Park to watch Scotland’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Norway in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying match, courtesy of Specsavers and the Scottish FA.

Cameron also received a signed Scotland top from Steve Clarke’s men’s national squad as a part of their accolade.

Specsavers’ Arlene Stephenson, Scottish Divisional Chair, says: ‘Specsavers is proud of our long tradition in backing Scottish referees, but our current partnership sees us going further than ever, helping to raise awareness of grassroots football across the country.

‘Our Local Legends campaign is all about shining a spotlight on those away from the glamour of the top divisions, but who work just as hard to ensure Scotland’s communities benefit from the beautiful game.

‘From managing their local teams and making sure the pitch is in top shape for matchday, to referees making sure everyone’s game goes ahead or even just fervently following your club for decades – these unsung heroes embody what football is all about.

‘We are delighted to celebrate Cameron’s contribution to both football and his profession as a referee, particularly for one so young.

‘In our eyes, he truly is a Local Legend.’

Specsavers announced in 2021 that it renewed its’ sponsorship deal with football referees in Scotland, marking more than 20 years of support – one of the longest agreements of its kind in sport.

The deal has seen the partnership continue into 2024, not only helping with the training and development of referees, but also helping to raise awareness of para football and grassroots football in Scotland.

Cyber Safety Information Session

THURSDAY 22 FEBRUARY from 2 – 4pm

at WEST PILTON NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE

Join us for a Cyber Safety Information Session!

Where: West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre (19 West Pilton Grove, Edinburgh EH4 4BY)

When: Thursday, 22 February, 2pm – 4pm

Free event! Sign up in advance to secure your place at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/…/make-it-happen-cyber…

About the session:

Learn how to stay safe online, protect your personal information, and recognise risks of fraud, scams, and identity theft at this free information session!

Presented by North Edinburgh Arts’ Make it Happen project in partnership with People Know How.

For more information or questions, please email Asia at asia@northedinburgharts.co.uk.

Proudly supported by the Scottish Ecosystem Fund 2023-24.

Appeal for Big Swap donations

Just a reminder that we are now looking for donations for our Big Swap event at St Martin’s Community Resource Centre, Edinburgh, which will take place on Saturday 2nd March.

Big Swap is a big FREE giveaway of all preloved items including clothes, shoes, household items, books, toys etc.

At the moment, at Granton Parish Church, Edinburgh we are accepting the following donations until Thursday 29/02:

– good condition household items,

-men and teenager clothes and shoes.

All donated items must be CLEAN and in GOOD, WORKING CONDITION.

Any questions-email: anna@grantongoesgreener.org.uk