A RESTORED Edinburgh landmark has welcomed another happy buyer, a local couple who made their dream move into one of Boroughmuir’s incredible top floor vaulted apartments.
After making the decision to move, Edinburgh-born Alison Murphy and her husband Mark set out to find a home in the heart of the city that had the perfect combination of character and style.
With a move hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple found their dream home at the refurbished former Boroughmuir High School, where they purchased a light-filled, three-bedroom corner apartment with original feature beams and beautiful crescent windows.
Alison said: “When we decided to move, we knew we wanted to be near to the centre of the city where we could walk everywhere.
“We travel a lot, and so we wanted something hassle free with private parking and some outdoor space without the upkeep. As well as its location, what attracted us to Boroughmuir was its setting within this beautiful old building which oozes character, but is completely brand new and modern inside.”
“Interestingly, we are on the south west facing side of the building, and so although we’re on the side without the views of Edinburgh castle, our home is filled with light which really won it for us.”
Alison and Mark made the decision to move last year, and sold their home in January in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic. They have both praised CALA for its team’s efforts to get everything ready for the couple to move into their new home as quickly as they could.
She added: “The sales consultants, did their best to make what was a difficult year for buying and selling a house as smooth as possible. The service has been exceptional, from the sales team to the site staff and everyone has been so pleasant and welcoming.
“It was very difficult to move during a pandemic, but the CALA team couldn’t have made it easier – without a doubt, they’ve bent over backwards for us. We’re so lucky we’ve now got this super place to call home.”
Alison has also commended the housebuilder for Boroughmuir’s attention to detail – including the authentic feature beams across the original 7m ceilings.
She said: “My favourite thing about the property is its quirkiness and the history of it, knowing it was a chemistry classroom before really adds to its character.
“Boroughmuir has just ticked so many boxes for us, especially its amazing location. We’ve lived on the west side of Edinburgh for forever, but to be able to now walk to the shops is brilliant.”
Nestled in Bruntsfield, Boroughmuir is surrounded by plenty of bars, restaurants, and independent shops, and only a short distance from Haymarket and the vast greenery of The Meadows.
Boroughmuir is regarded as one of the Scottish capital’s most prized school buildings, constructed pre-WWI between 1911 and 1914. The Grade B-listed building is the innovative creation of renowned architect John Alexander Carfrae and was notably one of the first in Edinburgh to utilise a steel frame for architecture.
Each of the apartments comes with lift access, off-street allocated parking with access to electric vehicle charging points and access to a relaxing private residents’ courtyard.
Buyers at Boroughmuir also enjoyed an added peace of mind of a 10-year NHBC warranty, 24-hour response service for emergency calls and after-sales service for 2 years.
For further information on Boroughmuir, or to book an appointment for a tour of its recently launched second show apartment, please visit:
An application to build new homes in Telford is facing opposition.
Port of Leith Housing Association has lodged plans to build eleven flats on the site of the shops on Telford Drive, but one resident has appealed to Drylaw Telford Community Council to challenge the application.
At one time there was a row of shops on the site at the heart of the scheme – older readers may recall a fish and chip shop, a haberdashery and a general store there – but the last remaining convenience store closed last year.
The nearest shops for Telford residents are at Ferry Road ‘shopping centre’ in Drylaw or over the busy Telford Road at Craigleith Retail Park – and at least one Telford woman thinks this is wrong.
She told Drylaw Telford Community Council: “When the shop closed in January 2020 it was to make way for flats and a convenience store included, but with covid that all fell through.
“We have waited on the same plans to re-emerge, only to find out that the council are giving planning permission according to a report in Edinburgh live yesterday , for the flats only.
“I am outraged as our nearest shop is the Today store in Drylaw and it is a long journey for most and to carry shopping is very hard.
“I have lived in this street for over 50 years and we have always had a shop here – Sohil the shop owner was reluctant to give up this land but he was promised a new shop would be built and he would have a choice to come back and run it.
“The residents of Telford Drive need a shop in our street – not everyone has a car.”
Drylaw Telford Community Council will discuss the application at their August meeting.
A programme to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency will receive an extra £9 million of funding this year to support a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and help fuel poor households save money on their heating bills.
The Scottish Government’s Area Based Scheme (ABS) programme will provide over £64 million in 2021/22 – up from £55 million the year before – to enable every local authority in Scotland to deliver energy efficiency measures to fuel poor households and communities.
The work forms part of a £1.6 billion investment over the next five years to transform the heat and energy efficiency of buildings. The Scottish Government’s draft Heat in Buildings strategy sets out a vision for more than one million homes to be using low and zero emissions heating systems by 2030.
ABS projects have helped deliver energy efficiency improvements to more than 100,000 homes since the programme launched in 2013. That has generated cumulative savings for household fuel bills worth over £900 million while reducing CO2 emissions by over 3.4 million tonnes.
Local ABS projects plan to install low and zero emissions heating systems in more than 500 homes this year, as well as insulation and other improvements such as solar panels and battery storage.
Net Zero and Energy Secretary Michael Matheson visited Hillpark in Glasgow to announce this year’s ABS funding plans.
Mr Matheson said: “We are wholly committed to ending Scotland’s contribution to climate change and, crucially, doing so in a way that is fair for everyone and leaves no-one behind.
“Reducing emissions from heating our homes is one of the most important things we can do to ensure we become a net-zero society by 2045. It will require us all to take action and everyone across Scotland will need to play their part in making sure our homes and buildings are fit for a net-zero future.
“We are committed to rapidly scaling-up action, but doing so in a way that ensures that our fuel poverty objectives and our commitment to tackling climate change work together, ensuring a fair and just transition to net zero.
“I am pleased to confirm increased funding for this year’s ABS programme, which continues to support on-the-ground delivery of projects making a tangible and positive difference – not just to greenhouse gas emissions, but to people’s lives.”
Councillor Kenny McLean, City Convener for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Public Realm at Glasgow City Council, said: “The ABS programme in Glasgow has made a huge impact in many households in Glasgow, lowering energy bills and reducing carbon emissions.
“The increase in funding will allow continued economic, environmental and social benefits to be delivered as a result.”
Area Based Schemes are delivered by local authorities targeting fuel poor areas and communities. ABS funding also targets the `hardest to treat’ properties requiring external wall or complex cavity wall insulation, making homes warmer and less expensive to heat.
By leveraging investment by private and social landlords, ECO finance and Scottish Government funding, ABS projects have been particularly successful in delivering improvements for multi-occupancy properties such as flats and tenements, as well as whole streets.
Scotland’s councils are to share more than £3.2 billion in grant funding over five years to deliver more affordable homes.
Local authorities will benefit from an increase of more than £541 million on the previous five year allocation – an uplift of more than 20%.
Housing Secretary Shona Robison said: “We have already delivered more than 102,000 affordable homes since 2007. Building on this, our aim is to deliver 100,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% of these for social rent.
“Meeting this ambition will require continued collaboration across the private and public sectors. I’m pleased to be increasing significantly the available affordable housing grant funding for council areas to help with this important work.
“The five-year allocations will provide the certainty and assurance the housing sector needs to deliver the ambitious affordable homes target set out in our Housing to 2040 strategy.”
COSLA Resources spokesperson Councillor Gail Macgregor said: “We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to contributing to the cost of affordable housing in Scotland. The priority for councils, and housing associations, is ensuring rent affordability and warm, safe, comfortable homes for current and future tenants.
“As we look to recover from the impacts of the pandemic, councils are working side by side with their communities. We maintain a focus on our shared ambitions around tackling child poverty and climate change, alongside building more houses.”
The City of Edinburgh Council also welcomes the announcement from Scottish Government on a five-year funding package for local authorities and housing associations in Scotland to deliver new affordable homes.
Edinburgh is one of the most pressured housing markets in the country and needs more affordable homes to meet the needs of its growing population.
City of Edinburgh Council’s Convener for Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, Councillor Kate Campbell said: “This announcement of £233.8m funding for housing in Edinburgh from the Scottish Government over the next five years is hugely welcome. Having certainty over future funding puts us in a strong position to continue building that pipeline of social and affordable homes that we so desperately need.
“This will allow us to plan ahead and acquire sites, design and develop new homes and appoint contractors. And not only do we have certainty, we also have an increase of almost £44m from our baseline allocation over the last five years.
“Having recently met with the Cabinet Secretary to set out the challenges in Edinburgh, and the further investment we need, this is a positive response.
“We’ve also consistently received in-year allocations of extra funding when other local authorities have had underspends in their grant. Over the last five years this has amounted to about £40m. Our aim is to continue making the case for any future underspends to come to Edinburgh by making sure that we continue our strong track record on delivery of homes.
“And, because the need for permanent, secure and affordable housing in our city is so great, we’ll also continue to make the case for additional funding for Edinburgh from the national housing budget. But having certainty for the next five years, and an increase in funding, puts us in a fantastic position just now, and gives us a really strong platform to build from.”
Vice Convener for Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work, Councillor Mandy Watt, said: “We have ambitious plans to grow the number of homes we own, which we’ll do by purchasing homes and by building homes through our own housing development programme.
“Alongside this, we’ve got to find ways to deliver more affordable housing through our planning policies. Currently, the minimum amount of land for affordable homes is 25% of any major development. We are proposing that the minimum allocation is increased to 35%.
“As a Council, we’re committed to ending poverty and becoming more sustainable. Our house building programme will make a major contribution towards achieving that.”
SOON-TO-BE newlyweds have snapped up their “dream home” in one of Edinburgh’s most desirable new postcodes.
As the first-footers in “The Avenue”, part of the final phase of homes at Ravelrig Heights by CALA Homes (East), Craig and Alise are the first to enjoy life in one of the eight impressive five-bedroom homes on the crescent shaped The Avenue.
As well as some showcase interiors, each home at The Avenue features a large driveway with electric gate entrance, a double garage with self-contained accommodation above and gardens up to a third of an acre in size.
The Avenue features two house types, the Waverley, the house type purchased by Craig and Alise which spans 3726 square feet, and the Roxburgh which spans 3252 square feet.
Craig, a portfolio manager, said: “We weren’t planning to move so soon but because of everything that happened during the pandemic, we spent a lot of time at home and wanted a bit more space.
“After looking at a few developments, we still weren’t set on buying a new home, but when we looked at The Avenue it just made sense. It’s amazing coming somewhere where our money can go a lot further.
“We wanted some place quieter, but still reasonably close to Edinburgh city centre and close to my parents. Alise used to live in Balerno so we always talked about starting a family here as the schools and community are really great. After seeing The Avenue, we were like ‘yeah this is it’.”
Welcomed by a statement double staircase, upper galleried landing with an upper balcony and large rear garden, the development stood out to Chris and Alise for its family-friendly charm.
Alise, an events coordinator said: “When we walked in and saw that staircase that was it for me, I was like I need to live here. Every part of the house just had that wow factor.
“We knew there was a garden but when we stepped out we were in shock. I had never seen a home with a garden this big. From the kitchen you can slide the doors open and step right out which is perfect especially for the summer.
Designed with light and spacious living in mind, The Avenue’s homes benefit from designs equipped with an open planned kitchen, built-in appliances, bi-folding doors and under floor heating.
Alise added: “We knew CALA had a great reputation and were going to look after us but they truly do go above and beyond.
“The journey doesn’t end when you move in. We have the development manager checking in regularly to make sure everything is alright and that we’ve settled in well. We can’t speak highly enough about CALA.”
Craig added: “We are both very active people so the space above the garage has been amazing as we’ve been able to convert it into a home gym.”
With a separate home office, The Avenue offers buyers an ideal place to work from home with a range of outdoor networks into the countryside and excellent transport links into the capital.
Homes at Ravelrig Heights start from £795,000 with homes on The Avenue ranging from £1,095,000 – £1,215,000.
For more information on The Avenue, Ravelrig Heights, Balerno, please visit: https://www.cala.co.uk/theavenue or call 0131 516 6832.
A historic Edinburgh brewery site is set for a new lease of life having been brought to the market.
The site at Duddingston Road West was previously home to the former Drybrough Brewery, which operated at the location from 1895 until 1987.
The exceptional development site, named “Holyrood Village” and measuring just under two-acres in area, already boasts planning consent as a mixed-use development for 131 new homes and 15 commercial units.
Offers are now being invited for the potential delivery of a high-quality residential development, with some commercial, which will be steeped in the history and character of the former brewery site.
Consented for a mix of refurbishment and new build, Holyrood Village lies in a well-connected Edinburgh location near Duddingston Village, Holyrood Park, Duddingston Golf Course and the world-leading Edinburgh BioQuarter.
For the last 30 years the site has been operating as Holyrood Business Park, catering for a variety of small businesses.
It is also home to Format Design who are the lead architectural design team for the project and therefore able to bring an intimate expertise and understanding of the site and its history.
The brewery was designed by renowned architect, Robert Hamitlon-Patterson, also responsible for the Caledonian Brewery and the Royal Scots War Memorial in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh.
It was one of the seven breweries in the area but is the only one to remain mostly intact and is Category B listed.
Listed building consents have been obtained and the approved development converts the old brewery whilst retaining as many of the original buildings as practically possible including the chimney stack, one of the last remaining in Edinburgh
In addition to being an exceptional residential site, the location may be suitable for other uses such as purpose-built student accommodation, subject to planning.
It lies in close proximity to a number of University of Edinburgh facilities, including King’s Buildings and Peffermill Playing Fields, as well as the Edinburgh BioQuarter.
This exciting new development takes place within the existing cobbled courtyard of the ‘Brewery’ surrounded by the original stone building which will all retain their original names (e.g. The Maltings, The Kiln, The Wellhouse and The Brewhouse) and retain the original features.
The introduction of coffee shops, small studio spaces, corner shop which will create its village community atmosphere with magnificent views over Arthur’s Seat.
Commenting on this Will Scarlett of Scarlett Land and Development, who are marketing the site, said: “This is a truly-unique opportunity for an exceptional development in a well-connected location.
“There is the real potential here for a purchaser to deliver an exceptional scheme, steeped in the history and character of the former brewery. The site may also be suitable for other uses, such as student accommodation, given its location in close proximity to many key University of Edinburgh facilities and the BioQuarter.”
The site is being marketed by Scarlett Land and Development and further information can be found at:
Proposals to create Scotland’s largest ‘net zero’ housing development in Edinburgh have been granted approval by city planners this June.
The 444-home Western Villages is being led by the City of Edinburgh Council in partnership with Glasgow-based contractor CCG (Scotland) and architect Cooper Cromar.
The development will form part of the Granton Waterfront Regeneration, where over 3,500 homes are set to be created over the next ten years, delivering one, two and three-bedroom apartments, including wheelchair-accessible ground-floor dwellings, available in a mix of social (195), mid-market rent (62), market rent (63) and private sale tenures (124).
Designed within a masterplan that will take advantage of stunning parkland and sea views, there will also be greater emphasis placed on pedestrian and cycle movement with electrical car charging, car club accessibility and public transport in favour of traditional car parking which is reduced across the development.
The homes designed to the principles of CCG’s newly launched ‘Net Zero Home’ housebuilding standard. Developed in collaboration with energy and sustainability consultancy, Carbon Futures, the Net Zero Home focuses on enhanced fabric performance, low carbon heating and renewable technology as part of a gas-free energy strategy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (arising from regulated operational energy use) to a rate less than or equal to zero per year.
With an ambitious target to become a ‘net zero’ city by 2030, this first phase of Granton Waterfront will act as a blueprint for future sustainable development and help Scotland to transition towards a greener economy.
City of Edinburgh Council’s Vice Convener for the Housing, Homelessness and Fair Work committee, Councillor Mandy Watt, said: “All of the steps we’re taking to make homes more sustainable will reduce the energy they use once occupied, thereby helping us to tackle climate change and become net zero carbon by 2030. That’s why we’re pleased to have CCG working with us as they adopt a new ground-breaking housebuilding standard.
“It’s great to see this development with a large proportion of social rent homes get planning approval. We have incredibly ambitious plans which form the bedrock of our housing strategy over the next ten years. There is a critical need for more affordable homes in Edinburgh and we are responding to that through the commitment to build 20,000 social and affordable homes by 2027.
“Western Villages forms part of the wider Granton Waterfront regeneration project which will create one of Europe’ s largest coastal city parks, providing opportunities for residents and visitors to reconnect with the city’s waterfront by offering more areas for leisure and outdoor experiences, civic spaces and sustainable housing.”
CCG Managing Director, David Wylie, said:“Housebuilding is going to play a major part in achieving our ambitious target of becoming a ‘net zero’ economy by 2045.
“With gas being removed from new build homes as early as 2024, it places greater emphasis on collaborative working as the partners on this project have demonstrated; utilising the CCG Net Zero Home building standard to create an affordable, scalable and practical solution that can ultimately be delivered now for any residential development.
“We commend the City of Edinburgh Council for their bold commitment and share their aspirations for a more sustainable future for Scotland.”
Cooper Cromar Project Director, Graham Connor, said: “Cooper Cromar are delighted to have been appointed as the Architect to design and deliver this important residential project delivering one of the initial phases of the Granton Waterfront Development Framework which sets out the Urban Design Framework and Design Guidelines for future developments within the wider Granton area.
“We have sought to create a masterplan that not only stands alone for its significance as Scotland’s largest net zero development but also respectful to the wider regeneration of Granton. It will complement and integrate with future phases of housing delivery and we look forward to working with the project partners over the coming years.”
Carbon Futures Director, Andrew Money, said: “We are delighted to have supported City of Edinburgh Council and CCG with their bold and ambitious plans for Western Villages.
“From the outset, the key areas of focus for the design team were to maximise fabric performance and avoid the use of fossil fuels. This approach, together with the use of on-site renewable energy, will greatly reduce energy demand and deliver a significant reduction in utility costs for homeowners.
“The energy strategy for Western Villages delivers a low-carbon development, future-proofed against upcoming government legislation and presents a fantastic example of how the construction industry can support the nationwide effort to reduce carbon emissions and create a more sustainable future.”
Construction of Western Villages is expected to begin in mid-2022.
Housing Secretary Shona Robison has welcomed new joint statements from landlords reaffirming their commitment to supporting tenants facing difficulties during the pandemic.
Signed by representative bodies for local authorities, housing associations and private landlords, the statements underline the sector’s commitment to only taking eviction action as a last resort.
The move follows this week’s announcement by Deputy First Minister John Swinney of a £10 million grant fund to support tenants struggling to pay their rent as a direct result of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The new fund takes the Scottish Government’s total support for tenants during the pandemic to almost £39 million.
Ms Robison said:“We have been clear from the outset that eviction action must be an absolute last resort, when all other avenues have been exhausted and a tenancy is no longer sustainable, so I welcome these joint statements from across the rental sector.
“The actions already taken by the Scottish Government, local authorities, housing associations and private landlords have been essential to avoiding evictions. Our new £10 million grant fund to support those who are struggling to pay their rent will shore up these efforts and extend more support to those facing crisis due to the pandemic. We will work towards making the grant fund available later in the year, and we will work with stakeholders over the coming weeks to develop the details.
“Paying rent is an important tenant responsibility, and tenants in financial hardship should engage directly with their landlord. When landlords are flexible with their tenants, signposting them to the range of financial support that is available and coming to agreements to prevent and manage rent arrears, this sustains tenancies and keeps people in their homes, benefitting everyone. These actions are crucial to move towards a sustainable and fair recovery from the impact of COVID-19.”
Cllr Kelly Parry, COSLA Community Wellbeing Spokesperson, said:“Local authorities have worked closely with tenants during the public health crisis, to support them to stay in their homes.
“This is something we were doing previously, but became even more important as our homes became even more important to us over the months of the pandemic. I am glad to see the sector restate their commitment to support tenants, and would encourage any tenant facing financial challenges to work closely with their landlord and seek advice and guidance early.”
Sally Thomas, Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Chief Executive, said:“Housing associations and co-operatives have always worked hard to help tenants who are struggling to pay their rent through tenancy sustainment services.
“This includes support to access benefits, budgeting advice, hardship funds and employability services – and this work has increased during the pandemic. They arrange manageable payment plans for tenants in rent arrears and will never evict someone who has agreed to, and is meeting, the conditions. Every effort is made to keep people in their homes.
“Any tenant who is struggling financially should contact their housing association or co-operative for support and help in paying rent.”
John Blackwood, Scottish Association of Landlords Chief Executive, said:“The overwhelming majority of tenants and landlords are working together to sustain tenancies during the pandemic.
“We welcome the Scottish Government emphasising that tenants have a responsibility to pay their rent, and encourage landlords to work with their tenants and always treat eviction action as a last resort. Our members have been working closely with tenants to reduce rents and write off arrears wherever possible.
“We strongly welcome the £10 million grant fund the Scottish Government has announced to help ensure tenants do not build up debt through rent arrears that they would struggle to repay. It is important landlords remain sensitive and constructive when working with their tenants, and that tenants struggling due to the pandemic speak to their landlord as early as possible.”
The shared statement on private landlords and letting agents working together with tenants to avoid evictions reads:
In responding to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, there are many examples of private landlords and letting agents who have gone further than ever before to engage with tenants as more people find themselves in difficulty for the first time because of Covid.
As the country comes out of lockdown it is our shared commitment to make sure that tenants in hardship because of Covid continue to get support to pay their rent and living expenses and we will continue to work together collectively to ensure this is done.
The Scottish Government will continue to explore all options for policy and financial support to enable tenants to work with their landlords and letting agents; to be aware of their rights and responsibilities and support them to address financial hardship due to Covid-19.
Alongside existing support of extended notice periods, Discretionary Housing Payments and the Tenant Hardship Loan Fund this will include a new £10m Grant Fund package to support tenants in crisis who are struggling to pay their rent because of financial difficulty caused by the pandemic and help landlords to support them.
Where a private tenant has suffered financial hardship because of the Coronavirus pandemic, eviction action should be an absolute last resort, when all other avenues have been exhausted and a tenancy is no longer sustainable.
We advise that private landlords and letting agents continue to work to the following principles – for the remainder of the pandemic and throughout recovery:
Intervene early to keep people in their homes and give them the support they need to stay there
Landlords and letting agents should work with tenants who are struggling and support them to make arrangements to pay rent through a plan that is manageable for them in the long term
All landlords and letting agents should be flexible with their tenants, signposting them to the range of financial support that is available to help prevent rent arrears as part of the pre-action protocols required prior to any eviction application to the Tribunal or Sheriff Court.
Landlords and letting agents should act compassionately and quickly to support people who are in financial hardship and wish to work with their landlord to reduce arrears.
Paying rent is an important tenant responsibility and, where a tenant is able to do so, they must continue to pay their rent. To help do this, private landlords and letting agents from across the country have worked flexibly with their tenants to help them access the wide range of support on offer, and to sustain tenancies and prevent eviction action – as demonstrated in the annexed case studies.
Purpose of this statement
To set out the current levels of support available for private rented tenants and to reaffirm the flexible and supportive approach private landlords and letting agents should and in many cases have been taking to help keep people safe in their homes and avoid eviction where tenants are struggling through no fault of their own to manage their rent payments
To highlight real-life examples of private landlord practice since the start of the pandemic that has helped tenants in financial difficulty access support in order to sustain their tenancies.
A complimentary statement has been developed with social housing landlords.
The Scottish Association of Landlords PropertyMark The Scottish Government
Balancing neighbourhood needs with tourism interests
Consultation on the details of a licensing scheme for short term lets will take place over seven weeks this summer.
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has announced the publication of a draft licensing order for consultation, ahead of laying the final legislation at the Scottish Parliament in September.
Stakeholders will now have until 13 August to comment on the licensing order and the draft business and regulatory impact assessment.
Draft guidance documents have also been published to explain how the legislation would work in practice.
Ms Robison said: “Regulation of short term lets is vital if we are to balance the needs and concerns of our communities with wider economic and tourism interests.
“Short-term lets can offer people a flexible and cheaper travel option and have contributed positively to our tourism industry and local economies across the country.
“However, we know that in certain areas, particularly tourist hot spots, high numbers of short-term lets can cause problems for neighbours and make it harder for people to find homes to live in.
“By allowing local authorities appropriate regulatory powers through a licensing scheme, we can ensure that short term lets are safe and address issues faced by local residents and communities.
“It will allow local authorities to understand more fully what is happening in their areas and assist with the effective handling of complaints.”
Under the proposed legislation, local authorities will have until 1 October 2022 to establish a licensing scheme, with all short-term lets to be licensed by 1 April 2024. Existing hosts and operators must apply for a licence by 1 April 2023.
The Scottish Government previously withdrew the Licensing Order from the Scottish Parliament in February. This was to allow for draft guidance to be developed with input from the stakeholder working group.
Ms Robison added: “We want to get this legislation absolutely right. A stakeholder working group was established earlier this year to develop guidance on the licensing scheme that was clear, comprehensive and easy to understand.
“As part of this, the Scottish Government also set out to allay any unfounded concerns and actively explore solutions to any real issues, with a view to making any necessary adjustments to the Licensing Order.
“Stakeholder working group members have helpfully made a range of suggestions for adjustments to the Licensing Order, as well as providing very significant contributions to drafting the guidance.”
The consultation runs until Friday 13 August 2021.
The consultation paper on draft licensing legislation for short-term lets in Scotland and supporting documents can be found here: gov.scot/publications/short-term-lets/.
A RESTORED Edinburgh landmark has landed its latest happy buyers, a couple who have snapped up a two-bedroom, ground floor apartment.
First time buyers Mark Love and Leon Macmillan had been renting for five years in Quartermile before they set out to find a home in their favourite area of Edinburgh, Bruntsfield.
After hearing about the transformation of the former Boroughmuir High School from a colleague, the couple found their dream home in a south-facing apartment with a main door access from the landscaped courtyard.
Mark, a product development director, said: “I’m originally from Glasgow and Leon grew up in Leith, and in 2015 we agreed we’d rent for a little while and wait for something to come on the market that we both liked.
“Nothing had really come up that we loved but as soon as we saw Boroughmuir, there was no doubt in our minds that we’d go for it. We spend a lot of time in Bruntsfield at the weekends, but we never really passed the old Boroughmuir High School so we didn’t know it was being converted into apartments.
“We had originally wanted a one-bedroom apartment but through discussion and seeing the homes in the flesh, we realised this is going to be our home for some time so we decided to go for a two-bedroom apartment.
“We had this affinity with Bruntsfield and had always said we didn’t want a fixer-upper, we’d prefer newbuilds or newly renovated homes so this ticked a huge box for us. It’s this amazing grand building in the heart of Bruntsfield – a pristine new home with a historic building around it, it’s really the best of both worlds.”
Mark and Leon chose a ground floor apartment with four large windows looking out from the front of the building, with a second bedroom that many residents have converted into home offices, overlooking the resident’s courtyard.
The couple has praised the team at CALA for their consistent communication while buying a home during a pandemic.
Mark added: “They say buying a home is one of the most stressful things you can do but to be honest it was amazingly stress-free. We can’t fault CALA at all, they were great from the outset.
“I think that’s probably what made it a lot easier, the constant communication from the Sales Consultants, they kept in touch about deadlines and guided us through the process. There was never a need to chase them, we were kept fully informed throughout.”
Nestled in the heart of Bruntsfield, Boroughmuir is a collection of one, two and three bedroom apartments. Most of the homes have elevated ceiling heights, with some up to seven metres, innovative mezzanine levels and carefully retained original features. .
Boroughmuir is regarded as one of the Scottish capital’s most prized school buildings, constructed pre-WWI between 1911 and 1914. The Grade B-listed building is the innovative creation of renowned architect John Alexander Carfrae and was notably one of the first in Edinburgh to utilise a steel frame for architecture.
The development’s location in Bruntsfield means it is surrounded by plenty of bars, restaurants, and independent shops, and only a short distance from Haymarket and the greenery of The Meadows.
Each of the apartments comes with lift access, allocated parking with access to electric vehicle charging points, access to a private residents’ courtyard and a ten year NHBC warranty.
For further information on Boroughmuir, or to book an appointment for a tour of the show apartment, please visit:
