Residents are being invited to drop-in events this week as the Council gathers views on the ongoing ‘transformation’ of Powderhall.
Detailing early plans for new homes and greenspace on part of the site on Broughton Road, Council officers will be joined by Cruden Building and Smith Scott Mullan to take questions and gather views on Wednesday 15 June between 4:00pm and 7:30pm. This will take place at McDonald Road Library.
A virtual drop-in will also go live on Thursday 16 June between 4:00pm and 7:30pm, with a presentation and Q&A starting each hour (4pm, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm).
For residents unable to attend these events, a consultation website will open on Wednesday 15 June for three weeks, closing on Wednesday 6 July.
This consultation will specifically consider the Council’s vision for new housing on the former Waste Transfer Station site, which will include around 240 new energy efficient mixed-tenure homes.
In addition to the above, the blueprint for the wider area comprises redevelopment of an adjacent former bowling greens site for 27 affordable homes for older people, above a new 128 space early years centre and refurbished B-listed stables building on Broughton Road. This will be converted into a flexible event and exhibition space with a community art workshop, while new public realm and improved cycling and walking in St Mark’s Path are also planned. These phases have previously been the subject of community consultation and have received planning permission.
Councillor Jane Meagher, Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work Convener, said: “The closure of the old waste transfer site at Powderhall has created a unique opportunity for us to create a sustainable neighbourhood which benefits everyone in the area.
“Alongside affordable new homes – which will form an important part of our housebuilding target – our vision for Powderhall is to create enjoyable new public spaces and a truly intergenerational community. There will be dozens of employment opportunities too, as we also protect and preserve the nearby 1890s stable block for a whole variety of new uses.
“Local people have been very engaged to date and I hope that their views will genuinely shape this next phase of the project. The potential for Powderhall is incredible and we really want to make sure we get the designs right. The feedback from these drop-ins will help us.”
How to have your say:
In-person drop-in event
Wednesday 15 June, 4:00pm-7:30pm, at McDonald Road Library.
A leading trade body is urging newly-elected Scottish Councils to embrace investment in build to rent (BTR) and co-living to help address the current housing crisis, addressing nationwide shortages of rental stock and providing additional housing supply to help meet housing targets.
The call comes from the UK Apartment Association (UKAA), which recently launched in Scotland at an event in Glasgow.
BTR is a relatively new model for creating new homes in the UK, where all the properties are built for rent, not for sale and are located in close proximity to amenities, places of work and transport links.
Co-living is a type of communal living in which residents get a private bedroom, with the opportunity to share meals and discussions in common living areas.
Data from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) shows that in Scotland demand for rental housing had risen by over a third in the last three months, while supply had dropped by around 50 per cent, leading to an expectation that rents in Scotland will rise faster than in England and Wales.
However, the pipeline for BTR in Edinburgh and Glasgow represents just 6.7 per cent and 10 per cent of current private rented sector households, respectively. There is great capacity therefore for growth given the pipelines in Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds represent 29.6 per cent, 15.5 per cent and 13.1 per cent of current PRS households
BTR schemes in Glasgow include proposals for 324 homes at Buchanan Wharf and 685 BTR and co-Living homes at Portcullis House, with 338 homes at Skyliner and 476 homes at Fountainbridge in Edinburgh.
Brendan Geraghty, CEO of the UKAA commented: “BTR and co-living offer a tremendous opportunity for the thousands of people looking for a good place to rent, as well as councils wanting to revitalise neighbourhoods while solving the housing crisis in their area.
“Scotland is perfectly placed to look to models of living that are already popular across Europe and harness investment from organisations like pension providers to fund affordable, high-quality homes with a long-term value.
“We are witnessing massive demand for a new form of housing because so many people don’t see the traditional housing market as working for them. But the supply just isn’t there to meet the need. Managing rents can’t solve the fundamental issues in the market so it is time to focus on really delivering a supply of sustainable homes in sustainable locations.
“There is an opportunity for newly elected councillors to take the time to really understand and fully embrace BTR and co-living as having a critical part to play in helping to solve the housing crisis, enhancing quality and choice in the private residential sector.”
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce commented:“BTR and co-living are delivering high-quality housing, which is desperately needed, and will serve to address increasing demand. Innovative approaches to housing such as this are to be greatly welcomed and will also serve to retain and attract skilled young people to our cities.
“Glasgow City Council’s City Centre Living Strategy, for example, outlines a target to double the city centre’s population to 40,000 over the next 15 years and increasing density in the city centre is essential to its long- term success and sustainability. BTR is a key element in delivering this.”
Gillian McLees, UKAA Scotland Chair, commented: “2022 is set to be a pivotal year in the BTR sector in Scotland with the launch of landmark schemes to the public and long awaited buildings becoming operational.
“The UKAA and the UKAA Scotland Steering Committee are committed to the success of this sector and providing the rented homes that Scotland desperately needs.”
Last week I asked the Scottish Government about the rates of evictions after the COVID-19 pandemic, and if they would comment on evidence heard at the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee that sheriff officers are “making up for lost time” since the pandemic (writes FOYSUL CHOUDHURY MSP).
I was astonished by the answer. Green MSP Patrick Harvie, in his capacity as Minister for Tenants’ Rights, said that I was “overstating the case”.
But the words he dismissed were not my own. I was simply presenting the Minister with evidence heard at the committee, from a worker on the front line of dealing with Scotland’s increasing problems with debt and arrears.
Not only was Harvie’s response dismissive and insulting to those working to aid people with problem debt, it demonstrates a Scottish Government that is asleep at the wheel when it comes to the growing housing and homelessness crisis.
The scale of that crisis was reported recently: a 2,052 per cent spike in court proceedings initiated by local authorities since the eviction ban ended; 366 households facing eviction in just the first quarter of this year; a 16.5 per cent rise in homelessness applications from the last quarter.
Any analysis of this grave situation must also consider other evidence heard by the committee, that the cost to local authorities of evicting a social tenant and putting them into the homelessness system is exorbitant, at an estimated minimum of £24,000 for a relatively simple case without complex challenges.
As we all discovered afresh during the pandemic, prevention is better than cure. The Scottish Government had been repeatedly warned of the potential for spiralling evictions after the scrapping of the evictions ban.
Scottish Labour have been clear that Scotland badly needs targeted support for tenants in social housing to avoid this coming storm. Instead, we get denial of the scale of the problem as reported by those on its front lines. Scotland deserves better than a government that dismisses the concerns of its most vulnerable citizens.
I am unfortunately sure that this will not be the last the Social Justice and Social Security Committee hears on this matter in this Parliament.
I will continue to monitor the situation as it potentially affects many vulnerable people in the Lothian region I represent, and continue campaigning for better targeted support for vulnerable tenants who have been hit by the dual shocks of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis.
We must have a compassionate approach. Allowing cases like these to be pushed into the homelessness system has no moral or financial case, and the Scottish Government should explore every avenue to avoid it.
Forth Ports has submitted a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) to The City of Edinburgh Council for Harbour 31, an exciting mixed-use development on a 10-acre waterfront site at Leith.
The development has the aspiration to create a vibrant new neighbourhood for Leith. The plans for the waterside location include: 700 – 800 residential apartments, a hotel, local retail, flexible workspaces and offices and leisure facilities. The site sits on a dockside location and fits well with the Council’s Local Development Plan as being housing-led, mixed use development.
The development will see the regeneration of land adjacent to the newly opened FirstStage Studios, providing a place to live and work, for both creative and green jobs, as the Port of Leith transitions to become Scotland’s premier renewables hub. The site will also benefit from the new tram extension due to open in mid-2023.
Carole Cran, Chief Financial Officer of landowners Forth Ports Group, said: “At Harbour 31 we plan to create a vibrant new quarter to live and work, as new creative and green jobs come to Leith.
“With the option to walk to work or an easy tram ride into the city centre, this new neighbourhood will be a focal point of Leith’s continued regeneration.”
An online public consultation will take place on 23 June 2022 from 3.00pm – 7.00pm via www.harbour31.com, where further details of the proposed development can be found.
Following the outcome of the public consultation, a full planning application will be submitted.
A new study has revealed that Edinburgh is one of the top 5 most profitable UK cities for student landlords to invest in.
With the UK housing market continuing to grow and the rental sector booming, there are enticing opportunities in university towns for student landlords. Yet with 164 higher education options across the UK, which cities should landlords be looking to invest in?
We have worked with CIA Landlords to reveal The Best UK Cities for Student landlords. The student population of each city, the number of households and the average rent in student areas have all been analysed to find the most profitable opportunities for landlords.
EDINBURGH:
Edinburgh student landlords are making over £568,428,420 per year
Edinburgh rental prices cost students an average of £1,285 per month, the 5th most expensive in the UK.
Edinburgh has the 10th highest student population which accounts for over 15% of the city’s overall population.
UK general:
London student landlords are making over £2.6 billion a year in revenue.
Belfast was found to be the 2nd best city for student landlords to invest in the UK.
Reading, Derby and Luton were found to be the least profitable cities.
London has the highest rental prices averaging at £2,569 for students.
Oxford and Bristol follow after London for the highest average student rental charges (£1,788 and £1,544 per month respectively).
You can find the full study on the following link:
We’ve seen a dramatic rise in the number of homeless veterans seeking help since the pandemic. With the rising cost of living crisis, we know the situation is going to get worse.
Too often former members of the Armed Forces miss out on housing support because they aren’t identified as a veteran. As leading voices in the veterans housing sector, we’ve joined the No Homeless Veterans [www.nohomelessveterans.org.uk] campaign to urge local authorities to do more.
It’s vital that when someone needs help with housing, they are asked whether they’ve served in the Forces. If they have, this should be recorded. Once identified, they can be directed towards support that’s available.
Many, particularly in Scotland, already do, but all local authorities across the UK should be identifying veterans quickly. There is no need for them to be sofa surfing, bouncing from hostel to hostel, or sleeping on the streets. Our heroes deserve better and it’s inexcusable to leave them out in the cold.
Yours sincerely
Richard Gammage, CEO, Stoll
Andrew Lord MBE, CEO, Alabaré
Bernard Stonestreet, Executive Secretary/Founder, East Sussex Veterans Hub
Tim Stockings, CEO, Haig Housing
Sheena MacKay, Case Manager, Help for Heroes
Steve Bentham-Bates, CEO, Help 4 Homeless Veterans
Moira Bayne, CEO, Housing Options Scotland
Colonel (Ret’d) Tony Gauvain, Chair/CEO, PTSD Resolution
Emrys Rogers, Head of Housing & Assurance, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund
Mark Shields, Head of Community Support, Royal Air Forces Association
Brigadier (Ret’d) Martin Nadin OBE, Chief Executive, Scottish Veterans Residences
31 of 32 Local Authority Areas continue to see price increases over last twelve months
Average Scottish house price now at £218,992, up 0.5% on February, up 6.2% annually
Table 1. Average House Prices in Scotland for the period March 2021 – March 2022
Scott Jack, Regional Development Director at Walker Fraser Steele, comments:“Our data this month shows Scottish house prices continue to edge upwards. Modestly positive increases across the board continue to be the trend.
“The average house price in Scotland has increased by some £12,700 – or 6.2% – over the last twelve months, to the end of March. The average price paid, £218,992, sets another record and is the seventh time that this has happened in the last twelve months.
“On a monthly basis, prices in March 2022 rose by 0.5%, or close to £1,120. This monthly increase is lower than the revised 1.2% recorded in February, but surpasses the 0.1% that was seen in December 2021, three months earlier.
“It appears that the lack of good stock coming onto the market continues to support prices. This is in the face of some significant cost-of-living challenges too. We cannot know what that means for future performance, but we do know that high inflation makes property an attractive asset for investors when other assets do not offer such great returns. While you might think the future is uncertain, regional markets will perform differently for very specific reasons (think Aberdeen and oil) driving national averages.
“In our data, 31 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland saw their average prices rise over the previous twelve months, one more than in February. On a monthly basis, on the mainland, the largest increase in prices was in Argyll and Bute, where values rose across all property types except for flats.”
Commentary: John Tindale, Acadata Senior Housing Analyst
The March housing market
The average price paid for a house in Scotland in March 2022 was £218,992, setting yet another record price for the country – the seventh occasion that this has happened in the last twelve months.
This price is some £12,700 higher than that seen in March 2021, meaning that prices have risen by 6.2% on an annual basis. This increase is 1.6% lower than the revised 7.8% seen in February 2022, and is in fact the lowest annual rate recorded since November 2020 – some 16 months earlier.
On a monthly basis, prices in March 2022 rose by 0.5%, or close to £1,120. Again, this monthly increase is lower than the revised 1.2% recorded in February, but surpasses the 0.1% that was seen in December 2021, three months earlier.
The housing market growth rates would therefore appear to be slowing in March, although as Figure 1 below shows, house prices are continuing to climb, with the slowdown in rates being almost imperceptible. It should also be borne in mind that house prices in March 2021 had an upward blip, (see Figure 1), being one month ahead of the termination of the LBTT tax holiday in Scotland on 1st April 2021.
The ending of the tax holiday in April 2021 prompted an increase in the number of transactions that took place in March 2021 (Figure 2 below), as well as an increase in the number of high-value properties sold in the month (Table 2 below).
This followed as buyers brought forward their actual purchases into March 2021 – or even earlier – to take advantage of the tax savings available. It can therefore be concluded that the cause of the slowdown in annual rates in March 2022 is due to the higher-than-normal values that were current in March 2021, distorting the annual comparison.
Figure 1. The average house price in Scotland over the period March 2020 to March 2022 with trendline
Looking at the England and Wales housing markets, we find that all regions showed an average increase of +2.3% in house price growth in March 2022, compared to Scotland’s fall of -1.6%. However, also relevant is the fact that the ending of the equivalent LBTT stamp duty tax holiday in Wales didn’t occur until June 2021, whilst in England the tax holiday continued up to the end of September 2021.
England and Wales did not therefore experience the same upward movement in prices in March 2021, as was seen in Scotland, and hence comparisons in March 2022 across the three countries can be misleading.
We anticipate, other things being equal, that annual rates of house price growth in Scotland will bounce back in April 2022, as the effect of the March 2021 blip begins to decline.
Transactions analysis
Figure 2 below shows the monthly transaction count for purchases during the period January 2015 to March 2022, based on RoS (Registers of Scotland) figures for the Date of Entry. (March 2022 figures are based on RoS Application dates.) The graph shows that sales volumes generally pick up in March of each year, especially when compared to February, which is generally the quietest month of the year for house sales.
The March 2021 transaction total, at 12,237 sales, is the highest of the eight years shown, for the reasons discussed on page 3 i.e. they were LBTT-related. The second-highest March occurred in 2016, with 11,017 sales. This occurred as the result of a pre-announced 3% additional charge to be added to the LBTT – on second homes and buy-to-let properties – which came into force on 1st April 2016.
If we remove the pandemic-related years 2020 – 2022 from the calculations, then the average number of sales in March for the seven years 2013 – 2019 amounts to 8,241 transactions, compared to August, which has the maximum number of sales of any month at an average 9,368 transactions. The March 2022 transaction total of 8,046 sales is therefore close to average, although it is based on RoS Application Dates, as opposed to the Date of Entry, which we use for all our transaction counts, except for the latest month.
Looking at the first three months of each year, then 2022 is currently the fourth highest of the eight years charted.
Figure 2. The number of sales per month recorded by RoS based on entry date (RoS applications date for March
Scotland transactions of £750k or higher
Table 2. The number of transactions by month in Scotland greater than or equal to £750k, January 2015 – March
Table 2 shows the number of transactions per month in Scotland which are equal to or greater than £750k. The threshold of £750k has been selected as it is the breakpoint at which the highest rate of LBTT becomes payable.
Table 2 shows that there were 43 sales in excess of £750k during March 2022, and we anticipate that this number will increase as further sales for the month are processed by the Registers of Scotland. However, it is extremely unlikely that the March 2022 total will exceed that of March 2021, as the latter total of 115 sales was enhanced due to it being the final month in which purchasers could take advantage of the LBTT tax holiday, which came into existence on 15th July 2020.
The total for March 2015 was also exaggerated, as it was the final month before Scotland’s LBTT tax scheme started, at rates higher than the SDLT charges (for high-value properties) which had previously applied to the whole of the UK.
If we exclude these two exceptional events, then the total number of high-value sales during the first three months of 2022 is the highest of the last eight years. This is an indication that the “lifestyle changes” associated with the pandemic arising from “working from home” and the “need for space” are still strong features of the current housing market. This in turn has resulted in strong competition for the properties that meet these requirements, with substantial price rises being seen at the top end of the market.
The six authorities with the largest number of the 194 high-value sales that have been recorded to date in 2022 are: Edinburgh (94); Glasgow City (14); Fife (14); East Renfrewshire (10); East Lothian (9); and finally East Dunbartonshire (7).
Local Authority Analysis
Table 3. Average House Prices in Scotland, by local authority area, comparing March 2021, February 2022 and March 2022
Table 3 above shows the average house price and percentage change (over the last month and year) by Local Authority Area for March 2021, as well as for February and March 2022, calculated on a seasonal- and mix-adjusted basis. The ranking in Table 3 is based on the local authority area’s average house price for March 2022. Local Authority areas shaded in blue experienced record average house prices in March 2022.
Annual change
The average house price in Scotland has increased by some £12,700 – or 6.2% – over the last twelve months, to the end of March. This is a £3,100 decrease over the revised £15,800 growth in prices seen in the twelve months to the end of February 2022.
In March 2022, 31 of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland saw their average prices rise over the previous twelve months, one more than in February. The one area experiencing a price fall in March was Aberdeen City, down by 2.9% over the year. In Aberdeen City, it is the average price of terraces and flats that have seen a fall over the last twelve months. However, in Aberdeen, as we suggested last month, there is a strong correlation between house prices and the price of crude oil: we are hence anticipating that property values will begin to increase relatively soon, following the recent dramatic rise in the price of oil.
The area with the highest annual increase in average house prices in March 2022 was Fife, where values have risen by 15.9% over the year. The average price paid for a property in Fife in March 2022 has been elevated by the sale of an apartment at the Hamilton Grand complex for £2 million. This is the sixth apartment at the Hamilton Grand to be sold in the last twelve months. One of the many features of the Hamilton Grand is that it overlooks the final hole of the Old Course at St Andrews – which must be one of the best places in the world to live if you are a golf fan.
Monthly change
In March 2022, Scotland’s average house price in the month rose by some £1,125, or 0.5%, which is less than half of the £2,500 increase seen in February. The average price of a home in Scotland now stands at £218,992, which sets a new record level for the nation for the seventh time in the last twelve months.
In March 2022, 18 of the 32 Local Authority areas in Scotland experienced rising prices in the month, three fewer than one month earlier. The largest increase in average prices in March – of 8.2% – was in the Shetland Islands, where the average price of detached homes increased from £170k in February to £205k in March.
On the mainland, the largest increase in prices was in Argyll and Bute, where values rose across all property types except for flats. Perhaps the most interesting sale in Argyll and Bute in March was Tervine House, a five-bedroom detached home, located in Kilchrenan, with its own private jetty and fishing rights to Loch Awe. To reach Kilchrenan, it is necessary to drive down a seven-mile-long minor road, which comes to its end in the village. The property was originally put on the market for £575k but sold for £802k, being indicative of the strong competition that exists for homes that match the pandemic “lifestyle change” needs, of wide-open spaces in scenic locations.
Peak Prices
Each month, in Table 3 above, we highlight in light blue the local authority areas which have reached a new record in their average house prices. In March there are 13 such authorities, five fewer than in February. We can also add that Scotland itself has set a record average price in March 2022 – the third of the year.
Heat Map
The heat map below shows the rate of house price growth for the 12 months ending March 2022. As reported above, all but one of the 32 local authority areas in Scotland are reporting an increase in their house values over the last year. The area with negative growth is Aberdeen City, where prices over the year have fallen by -2.9%. The highest increase over the twelve months to March 2022 was in Fife at 15.9%, followed by Argyll and Bute at 15.3%.
Comparisons with Scotland
Figure 3. Scotland house prices, compared with England and Wales, Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005-March 2022
Figure 4. A comparison of the annual change in house prices in Scotland, England and Wales, Wales, North East and North West for the period January 2005–March 2022
Scotland’s Seven Cities
Figure 5. Average house prices for Scotland’s seven cities from January 2021–March 2022
Figure 6. Average house prices for Scotland’s seven cities March 2022
Rental growth to highs not seen since the Global Financial Crisis
6% strong annual rental growth in Scotland.
The proportion of gross earnings used for rent falls to 17.3% for dual renters in Edinburgh.
Rental demand is strongest in London, Scotland and Wales with demand levels more than 65% above the five-year average. London’s market is also one of the most constrained when it comes to stock levels, with homes available to rent at just over half the 5-year average, creating the conditions for the sharp rises in rents.
Average UK annual rental growth has reached a 14 year high (+11%), with rents increasing to £995 in Q1 2021, an extra £88 a month compared to the start of the pandemic
On average, UK tenants are staying in their rental properties for an extra five months compared to five years ago, with the average tenancy length up to 75 weeks, from 51 weeks at the start of 2017.
The highest rental growth since the Global Financial Crisis, coupled with the cost of living crisis, is putting increased pressure on renters – according to Zoopla, the UK’s leading property destination, in its quarterly Rental Market Report.
Higher rents and cost of living magnify pressures faced by renters
Average UK annual rental growth has reached a 14 year high (+11%), with rents increasing to £995 in Q1 2021. This represents an increase of £88 a month compared to the start of the pandemic and follows a strong bounce back from
last year, when average UK rents were down by more than 1%, despite wage growth peaking at 8.8% last summer.
For renters, this has led to a significant increase in the proportion of gross income spent on rent, particularly in London where it has risen to a significant 52% for a single earner (a level not seen since March 2020).
This falls to 26% for sharers and means that a new let agreed for an average rental property in London will cost more than £20,000 in rent over the next 12 months – putting significant pressure on renters already dealing with the backdrop of the cost of living crisis.
In the UK as a whole, the average rent now accounts for over a third of gross income (37%) for a single earner. Around a third of renters live alone, according to the English Housing Survey.
There’s also been a strong bounce back in rental growth in London from falls of 10% seen last year. Average annual rental growth in the capital rose to 15% at the end of Q1 – driven by demand for flats from students, office workers and international demand.
Demand for rental property continues to outpace supply across the country, pushing up rents, although the rate of rental growth will slow through the second half of the year
Stock constraints leading to longer tenancies
With renters facing increased pressure on their disposable income – there’s been a marked increase in tenants deciding to stay in their rental property for longer.
On average, UK tenants are staying in their rental properties for an extra 5 months compared to five years ago, with the average tenancy length up to 75 weeks, from 51 weeks at the start of 2017.
Interestingly, this trend has extended beyond lockdowns when the ability to move was hampered and indicates that landlords with tenants in situ may not be raising rents at the same rate as rental growth.
Rental demand is strongest in Scotland, Wales and London, with demand levels more than 65% above the five-year average. London’s market is also one of the most constrained when it comes to stock levels, with homes available to rent at just over half the 5-year average, creating the conditions for the sharp rises in rents.
Rental markets remain highly localised
The rental market remains highly localised, with the most affordable rental markets for dual earners located in more rural areas including Great Yarmouth in the East of England, South Somerset in the South West and North East Lincolnshire in Yorkshire & the Humber. In these markets, average rents account for up to 15% of joint gross income.
In London, Bromley is the most affordable rental market, where average rents account for 19% of joint gross income. In the North West, Copeland, a local authority on the edge of the Lake District, encompassing the towns of Whitehaven and Cleator Moor is the most affordable rental market.
Gráinne Gilmore, Head of Research at Zoopla comments: ““UK rental growth is being driven by high rental demand and limited supply, trends that are more pronounced in city centres. The surge of post-pandemic pent-up rental demand will normalise through Q2 and Q3 however, which means rental growth levels will start to ease.
“Affordability considerations will also start to put a limit on further rental growth although this may occur at different times depending on location. Rents are likely to continue rising for longer in areas which have the most constrained stock levels – currently London, Scotland and the South West.”
Gareth Atkins, Managing Director, Lettings at Foxtons comments: “ “The tenancy renewal numbers we have seen so far in 2022 are unprecedented. Steadily increasing demand, severely limited stock and a swift rise in rental prices are all compelling reasons to renew – and renters are responding.
“Through Foxtons renewals department, we have seen a 29% rise in renewals year-on-year vs 2021. Renters are also choosing longer tenancies to avoid a market in flux; our deal length for renewals has gone up 9% in 2022, reaching an average tenancy of 15.7 months.”
An inspirational design competition has a new cheerleader after a charity expert was appointed to help drive as many entries as possible.
Highly experienced Marie McQuade will now devote herself to raising awareness of the Blackwood Design Awards, which aim to transform the lives of those who need support to live independently.
The Dragon’s Den style competition has helped uncover a host of innovations to help people with disabilities or age-related conditions – but was put on hold for two years during the pandemic.
Now it is hoped Marie’s appointment will help relaunch the refreshed competition which typically attracts innovation and design breakthroughs from all over the world.
She said: “In Blackwood’s 50th year, it is more important than ever to celebrate and showcase the amazing inventions that have the potential to accelerate the industry and provide significant benefits to peoples’ lives.
“Every year individuals and organisations from around the world send in their thoughtful designs and we are really looking forward to seeing who will submit what and from where.
“This opportunity is hugely exciting and I am really looking forward to organising this unique and highly impactful competition that will see new designs, technologies and adaptations come to life.”
Marie joins Blackwood with over 25 years’ experience in the charity sector, having worked in diverse roles, supporting causes including Victim Support Scotland and the Scottish International Development Alliance.
She previously held a senior role at THINK Consulting Solutions, an International fundraising specialist which has worked with charities all over the world, developing fresh, innovative solutions to boost not for profit funds in a competitive landscape.
She has also supported Third Sector Organisations to grow their insights, income and impact at charities such as Changing Faces UK, Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres and Mencap, where she gained a wealth of knowledge in fundraising, events and communications.
Colin Foskett, Blackwood’s Head of Innovation, who kickstarted the Design Awards, said: “Marie comes with a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge in the charity and fundraising sector and is perfectly equipped to deliver the Design Awards to the highest standard.
“She has already thrown herself into the jobs at hand and we are both really looking forward to welcoming this year’s wonderful selection of up-and-coming innovators.”
Marie’s work will see her approaching universities, innovation hubs, tech incubators and other organisations with a stake in design, engineering and technology to encourage them to enter the awards.
She will also play an instrumental role in organising the event, including attracting sponsorship and recruiting members of the judging panel for the Dragon’s Den style competition, which will see entries evaluated on their ability transform lives.
Previous winners have included an app that helps make living spaces safer for people with dementia and inventor Grant Douglas’ “spill proof” spoon – the S’up Spoon – designed for those affected by conditions which cause them to shake.
Key categories include Best Collaborative Project, Best New Concept and Best New Aids, Equipment or Accessible Technology.
Groups or individuals can apply for the Blackwood Design Awards which are open to both seasoned professionals and gifted amateurs, meaning that both technologically advanced and those simpler, yet often most successful designs, are equally welcome.
The awards will mark Blackwood’s 50th Anniversary, since the it was founded by Dr Margaret Blackwood, a respected campaigner for improvement to help people with disabilities to live more independently.
Blackwood now operates more than 1500 properties across 29 local authorities, and invests in innovation and technology to help people live life to the full.
The charity has already built two developments of tech-smart ‘Blackwood Homes’ in Glasgow and Dundee which use a “CleverCogs” digital system to make life easier for older people and people with disabilities.
New on-site Showcase for Industry-Leading Sustainable Development set to become “a Spectacular Blueprint for Low-Carbon Living”
Savvy home buyers can now see for themselves the progress being made on one of Scotland’s most anticipated new residential developments following the launch of the on-site sales and marketing suite at Artisan Real Estate’s Rowanbank Gardens, in Corstorphine.
Potential buyers can now book an appointment or simply drop into the new marketing suite to view the many significant benefits of owning an industry-leading, sustainable home in one of the Capital’s most vibrant centre neighbourhoods.
Described as a ‘spectacular blueprint for low carbon living’, Rowanbank Gardens will deliver 93 high quality apartments.
Work began in summer 2021 and, with construction continuing apace, the first ‘move-ins’ are anticipated for spring next year. Since it launched late last year, sales have been buoyant, with 13 of the first ‘Appleberry’ phase already sold.
A further four of the remaining 14 apartments in Appleberry are now available, with the remaining apartments being released shortly.
Prices for a two-bedroom apartment start at £315,000 with a one-bedroom apartment available soon – making the development a perfect destination for first-time buyers and downsizers wanting to live in well-connected, bustling community just minutes from the city centre.
Artisan’s New Homes Sales Advisor, Izzy Bastiani, will now be based permanently at the new sales and marketing suite, and she is already welcoming new buyers to the Rowanbank Gardens experience.
Izzy said: “This is a fantastic development in a fantastic area – and the sales and marketing suite really brings to life what it would be like to live here. Visitors will be able to see, at first hand, just how well-connected and vibrant Corstorphine has become, with everything you need on your doorstep.
“Rowanbank Gardens has been designed to meet the needs of the modern buyer, making it ideal for the first-time buyer and downsizer market. At its heart is a sustainable design which reflects the demands of modern life, with buildings designed to minimise carbon footprint and maximise daylight.
“Significant emphasis is placed on the quality of internal space and light to create enjoyable home-working environments, whilst accessible gardens and landscaping promote health and well-being by making nature and well-designed outdoor space integral to the day-to-day living experience.”
She adds: “And with no fossil fuels being used and both heating and hot water delivered through individual air source heat pumps, the development offers smart energy-efficient design geared to achieving low to zero carbon ratings, with the added benefit of significantly lower home-running costs which is now, more than ever, especially important to home buyers.”
Rowanbank Garden’s apartments have been designed around an internal courtyard garden, filled with fruit trees and communal planting and growing beds as well as a natural woodland area and formal lawns.
The spacious apartments will provide open plan living with easy access to a private courtyard or large balcony overlooking the gardens, while innovations such as green roofs ensure benefits of surface water retention, improved insulation and biodiversity.
David Westwater, Artisan’s Scottish Regional Development Manager adds: “The Rowanbank Gardens site fits in well with Artisan’s approach of regenerating city centre sites with good local amenities and public transport links .
“It is well set to meet the Council’s stated requirement for well designed, high density living whilst providing spacious communal areas and well-established public transport links ensuring low car ownership.
“Artisan now has an opportunity in Scotland to set a new benchmark for high quality urban regeneration in sensitive city-centre environments – whether it be residential, commercial, or mixed-use.
“Our track record across Scotland has given us a strong understanding of the importance of sustainable low carbon living combined with high quality placemaking, which is at the heart of all Artisan’s developments.”
To register interest In Rowanbank Gardens and book an appointment at the new on-site sales and marketing suite, visit the development website at www.rowanbankgardens.com or call 0131 516 3302.
