Building Briefs – October 21st

• CALA sets sales record in East of Scotland

The developer, 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, a 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.

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 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.

• East Lothian wedding venue to expand after £780,000 Bank of Scotland funding package

A popular East Lothian wedding venue has announced plans to expand with support from a £780,000 funding package from Bank of Scotland.

Dunglass Estate in Cockburnspath will welcome a new 200-capacity luxury pavilion to its grounds at the end of November, with underfloor heating and on-trend long tables, as well as newly-refurbished guest accommodation.

The investment forms part of the bank’s £1.8 billion lending commitment to Scottish businesses, and anticipates the company’s turnover reaching £500,000 by 2021.

The wedding venue was established in 2009 and hosted just six weddings in its first year, but plans to be hosting 60 by 2021.

• HHP opens £1.6m affordable homes project on Isle of Lewis

A new affordable housing development on the Isle of Lewis was officially opened last week.

The ten properties for affordable rent cost £1.6 million of which £1.06m was funded by a Scottish Government grant, £522k by Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) and £30k by the Comhairle.

David Mackay, who won a competition to name the development prior to being completed by Calmax Construction Ltd, was in attendance at the official opening.

• New homes handed over to Highland Council

Highland Housing Alliance has handed over eight new homes to Highland Council in Larchbridge Way, Dingwall.

The Alliance was acting as development agent to deliver the properties for affordable rent.

With funding from the Scottish Government, the development is made up of 2 and 3 bedroom homes built by O’Brien Properties.