AS we head towards the height of summer, Edinburgh’s property market continues to heat up with the highest number of homes being bought and sold in more than a decade. Continue reading Capital housing activity highest in more than a decade, says Warners
City Council responds to Government consultation
The City of Edinburgh Council has published its response to the Scottish Government consultation on the regulation of short-term lets in Scotland. The consultation closes on MONDAY.
Continue reading Time’s running out to have your say on short-term lets
Homebuyers in Edinburgh are set to be spoiled for choice this summer as Scottish regeneration firm Urban Union launches the next phase of its popular Pennywell Living development in Muirhouse. Continue reading New homes for sale at Pennywell Living
BIELD, one of the country’s largest providers of housing and support services has appointed an interim Chief Executive as it continues the recruitment process for the full-time position. Continue reading Bield appoints interim Chief Executive
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.
An application for planning permission for the development of high-quality student accommodation on London Road was the city council’s planning committee yesterday. Continue reading People Know How heading back east as Meadowbank welcomes (?) student housing
A freedom of information request by the Scottish Conservatives has revealed that 6,193 disabled people are waiting for housing in Edinburgh. Continue reading Over 6,000 disabled people waiting for housing in Edinburgh
Housing & Economy Convener Cllr Kate Campbell is encouraging residents to have their say on short term lets by taking part in the Scottish Government’s consultation on the regulation of the industry.
The time people facing homelessness spend in unsuitable temporary housing including B&Bs could be limited, following a consultation launched yesterday.
A seven-day restriction in unsuitable temporary accommodation for everyone experiencing homelessness, as currently exists for families with children and pregnant women, is being proposed.
The Scottish Government also wants improvements made to the consistency of temporary accommodation quality across the country.
While most temporary accommodation is generally good, with the majority of homeless households found accommodation in the social rented sector, there are no set standards which cover the range of temporary accommodation available.
The consultation will also consider what legally enforceable standards could look like, developed in partnership with the sector and people with lived experience. These changes would mean that people living in temporary accommodation will experience a higher and more consistent level of accommodation and support while a permanent solution to their housing need is found.
Speaking at the Housing First Scotland annual conference in Edinburgh, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “Temporary accommodation can offer an important emergency safety net for anyone who finds themselves homeless with nowhere else to go, such as those fleeing domestic violence. But it should be just that – temporary.
“We want to make sure that the time anyone spends in temporary accommodation is as short as possible before moving to a more appropriate, settled home.
“It is also essential that temporary accommodation is of good quality so those who experience homelessness have the best possible chance to find their feet again.
“Making settled housing a priority is a key action in our plans to end homelessness, backed by £50 million of investment. We recognise the importance of a settled home for supporting people to live their life with good health, wellbeing and a sense of community and belonging.”
WITH TEMPERATURES rising in the capital, property market activity among both buyers and sellers is continuing to hit record levels. According to Warners Solicitors & Estate Agents, activity is at its highest since the ‘credit crunch’, and shows few signs of slowing down despite the prospect of Brexit. Continue reading Edinburgh’s Housing Market Banishes Brexit Blues
