Tag: Homes

Sales record set for East of Scotland homebuilder

A STRONG summer performance and a broad range of homes available has helped a developer’s east of Scotland regional team secure more than 100 reservations within a single quarter.

CALA Homes (East), which is currently selling homes in East Lothian, Midlothian and Edinburgh achieved its record three month period in July-September, with an average selling price of close to £450,000.

Key to the developer achieving its highest ever total was a run of reservations at its flagship development The Crescent, the sweeping arc of glass-fronted apartments in the grounds of Edinburgh’s famous Donaldson’s College – with sales exceeding £20 million.

In addition, its Waterfront Plaza development in Leith launched in July and became one of its fastest selling sites ever, with 16 homes sold in the first two weeks alone.

Philip Hogg, Sales and Marketing Director for CALA Homes (East), said: “We have some truly excellent projects on offer at the moment. 

“This is tempting buyers with everything from modern apartments for first time buyers through to some of the largest newly-built five bedroom homes on the market.

“In addition, it’s clear that buyers have reacted positively to a range of purchaser incentives available, to take much of the stress out of a home move.

“This includes our up to 100% Part Exchange, which can help buyers to act swiftly and secure their dream home within a development.”

The strong showing wasn’t just the preserve of the Scottish capital. In Midlothian, CALA completed its final sale at Mayburn Park in Straiton and enjoyed the successful launch of a new development in Penicuik, Belwood Oaks, with a number of homes reserved in the opening weeks.

In East Lothian, its North Berwick development, Law Gardens, continued to attract buyers, with strong sales at Castle Bay near Dunbar (top) and Haddington’s Letham Views.

In Gullane, it reached key milestones at two of its developments, with more than 60% of Fentoun Green sold and 40% of homes reserved at its award-winning restoration of Henderson House, part of its Marine Rise development.

Philip added: “We’re delighted with the reception our developments have received and encourage buyers to act quickly if they are looking to secure a home this year or early into 2020.”

For more information on CALA’s developments in the east of Scotland, please visit www.cala.co.uk/eastscotland 

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

Warmer homes? Send for the Q-Bots!

Q-Bot technology has recently been added to the range of energy efficiency measures offered under Warmer Homes Scotland – the Scottish Government’s national scheme for improving energy efficiency in homes who are in or at risk of fuel poverty.

The scheme’s Managing Agent, Warmworks Scotland, has now confirmed that the technology, a unique robot that is controlled via remote control, will be used to insulate the area underneath suspended timber floors, thus creating a warmer, more comfortable home, with fewer draughts, more even temperatures, and a reduced risk of damp or mould. Continue reading Warmer homes? Send for the Q-Bots!

Scottish housing and care provider ships ‘home of the future’ to Manchester

A SPECIALIST housing and care provider has adopted an ingenious method of transporting its ‘home of the future’ to Europe’s largest housing festival – by building it across three shipping containers.

A working replica of the ‘Blackwood House’ was on display at the Chartered Institute of Housing’s (CIH) annual conference in Manchester from the 25th– 27th of June.

In order to showcase the innovative home in all its glory, the Blackwood team are building the house in shipping containers so it can be transported south of the border.

The pioneering home transforms the day-to-day lives of people who want to live independently with cutting edge technology and design that reimagines living space, redesigning it physically and technologically to make it more accessible.

The adapted shipping containers will allow conference attendees and potential partners to see the technology in action and find out first-hand why it can revolutionise independent living.

Simon Fitzpatrick, Development and Commercial Director at Blackwood, said: “It obviously represents a logistical challenge to get a Blackwood House replica down to Manchester so we came up with the innovative use of shipping containers to help.

“We’re passionate about the way our Blackwood Houses allow people to live as independently as possible and it’s exciting that we’re going to be able to display it at Europe’s largest housing conference.

“We believe in creating neighbourhoods with the Blackwood House at the very heart of them which is something partners at the conference can really get behind the movement for independent living – #ImIn.

“The Blackwood House provides a solution to the national housing crisis and we’re making it our mission to enable people who want to live independently really gain from technological advances.”

Blackwood has an ambitious development programme over the next five years and every aspect of the house has been carefully considered to remove any obstacles or issues that can disrupt daily life. It features electric doors that slide open and shut at the touch of a tablet and taking away the hassle of manoeuvring around it.

Other special features include high and low-level kitchen units that rise and fall, and contemporary moveable bathroom components that provide high levels of accessibility.

The property is ‘smart’, too, with technology playing a key role: lights, blinds, doors, entry systems and heating can all be controlled via Blackwood’s bespoke digital care system, CleverCogs™. Much of this technology will be able to be controlled by voice.

1,400 providers attend the CIH Conference with 98% of the largest housing associations in attendance.

There are over 12,000 visitors over the three days with around 33,000 meetings taking place on the show floor.

Headquartered in state of the art, wheelchair friendly offices in Edinburgh, Blackwood works in 29 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities, and embraces the challenge of innovating housing and care at a time when funding is increasingly limited.