Building Briefs – November 12th

• Closing date set on sale of Glasgow city centre redevelopment opportunity with serviced apartment scheme consent

The properties occupy a highly visible corner position at the junction of West Regent Street and West Campbell Street, within Glasgow’s city centre on a prominent position in close proximity to a number of well-known hotel operators.

• Treverlen Park opened

The new Treverlen Park in Edinburgh is now open to the community.

This new park at the heart of Portobello is located within the same urban block as the recently opened St John’s RC Primary School which was also commissioned by The City of Edinburgh Council.

Due to its prominent location the project was initially led by the Craigentinny and Duddingston Neighbourhood Partnership prior to the involvement of Holmes Miller architects and MBLA landscape architects throughout the intensive consultation with local groups. 

The result is an arrangement of built and natural features which provide a different offering to the existing local amenity spaces and encourages activity and interaction. The new park includes a wheels area, climbing structures, and free play boulders suitable for all age groups.

The planting seeks to create a varied spatial experience comprising open spaces, tree roundels and land forms. The new and inviting park entrances emphasises the permeability of the new park which welcomes local residents to use this new amenity space.

• Fife Council confirms £5m investment to reconnect Levenmouth

Fife Council has agreed to provide up to £5 million funding, to match the £5m grant offer from Transport Scotland, to develop a ‘Levenmouth Reconnected’ blueprint.

The blueprint will aim to link a range of local initiatives, including the major project to re-open the Leven rail line and the SEPA-led River Leven Valley Project, to maximise economic regeneration and social benefits for the Levenmouth and Mid-Fife area.

• Aberdeen house price gloom returns after flicker of hope

Statistics relating to the Aberdeen housing market have revealed that the market is once again in a slump after a slight upturn was seen in the second quarter of this year.

Figures published by Aberdeen Solicitors’ Property Centre Limited, in cooperation with the University of Aberdeen, Business School, Centre for Real Estate Research, revealed that the quarterly house price change in Aberdeen city and suburbs stands at -0.9%.

The data also revealed that the annual price change and annualised house price change over five years in the city and suburbs is currently standing at -4.7%.

• Fewer properties come to market in Edinburgh as Brexit uncertainty continues

Over the past three months, average selling prices across Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders rose by 2.5 per cent to £253,552.

In Edinburgh, the average selling price is now £274,690 which is a 2.5 per cent increase compared to last year. Within the capital, the greatest house price growth can be seen in the north west of the city, with average selling prices rising by 16.7 per cent to £288,963.

The property type which experienced the greatest growth in average prices is three bedroom houses in South Queensferry and Dalmeny, rising by 33.9 per cent year-on-year to £299,864. This significant uplift is mainly due to a reduced number of terraced home sales, and a greater proportion of detached and semi-detached houses selling in recent months.

East Fife properties saw a significant increase in average property price, rising by 12.5 per cent to £248,772 while properties in East Lothian saw a 6.3 per cent increase. The average property price in Dunfermline and the West Fife and Kinross area decreased compared to last year, falling by 8.3 per cent and 6.1 per cent respectively.

The average property prices in West Lothian and Midlothian rose by 4.5 per cent and 3.9 per cent respectively, while the average price of properties in the Borders decreased by 5.6 per cent.

Over the last three months in Edinburgh, the Lothians, Fife and the Borders, the sales volume increased by 2.8 per cent annually. In Edinburgh, sales volume remained reasonably steady, decreasing by 0.1 per cent year-on-year. The volume of properties coming to market decreased by 2.9 per cent across all areas, with a more pronounced decrease in Edinburgh of 7.5 per cent.

The median time to sell across all areas was 21 days, which was the same as last year. In Edinburgh, the median time to sell was 19 days, which was also the same as last year. The fastest-selling property type was one-bedroom flats in Leith Walk, Easter Road, Pilrig and Bonnington which boasted a median selling time of 12 days.

• CALA launches final phase of upmarket apartments worth up to £1.75m

CALA Homes has launched the final phase of its upmarket Edinburgh development, The Crescent at Donaldson’s, with prices starting at £595,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to £1,750,000 for a deluxe penthouse.

Designed by acclaimed architect Richard Murphy OBE, The Crescent offers a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses.

A bold and sweeping arc of 84 enhanced height, glass-fronted apartments, The Crescent is located into the private rear of Edinburgh’s iconic Donaldson’s estate, situated within the city’s celebrated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Just a mile west of Princes Street, the collection of apartments boast the most comprehensive provision of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in Scotland, as well as the largest communal garden in Edinburgh.

It has swept up a number of prestigious industry accolades in the last year, most recently taking Best Design for four storeys or more at the Housebuilder Awards 2019.

Split into two wings, the east wing is currently under construction, while the last section of the west wing – which boasts the sales office and two show apartments, available to be viewed daily - has been made available to the public.