Building Briefs - October 30th

• Glasgow’s housing market soars, with capacity for further long term growth

Greater Glasgow’s housing market has seen exceptional growth in activity since it reopened in July following a six-week Scotland-wide lockdown, with a 44% increase in agreed sales, compared to the same period last year.

Faisal Choudhry, head of Savills Residential Research in Scotland, said: “The number of new buyers who registered with us between July and September to buy a property across Greater Glasgow and the West of Scotland was 103% higher than the same period in 2020. Last year over 60% of our buyers were families, attracted by the area’s good schools and the exceptional quality of life on offer. However, our latest data suggest that a renewed appreciation of space, the ability to work for home and access to outdoor space are perhaps becoming even more important drivers of demand.”

In Savills latest buyer survey, 55% of Scottish respondents said that a village location had become more attractive due to the experience of lockdown. Savills research reveals a growth of 2.0% in prime values in areas surrounding Glasgow in the year to the end of September, as a result of a fresh focus on room to work from home and to access outdoor space.

Meanwhile, demand has remained strong in Glasgow City where a lack of supply has driven a 6.8% rise in values in the year to the end of September. Despite delays in completions as a result of lockdown, £1 million-plus activity in 2020 has remained the same as the 10-year average, which demonstrates top-end market expansion in recent years. This includes a sale at £2.9m in Glasgow’s West End, a record for the city. 

And according to Savills, Scotland’s largest city and surrounding areas have capacity for still more value growth.

Faisal added: “Prime values in leading university cities across the UK have exceeded the peak of 2007/08 by almost 25%, whereas in Glasgow they are only 1% higher, underscoring capacity for further growth and suggesting is a good property investment option.”

• Valley cyclists brave the cold for Marie Curie cycle

Maintenance contractor Valley Electrical Services has raised £2760 for Marie Curie by cycling 25 miles from Glasgow to Balloch.

It was a cold and wet Saturday but the good old Scottish weather was not going to stop the novice cyclists from completing their challenge.

The company had been working in the Glasgow Hospice for a number of months, carrying out electrical repairs and lighting upgrade works. During this time they got to know the staff and began to learn more about the important job they do. So impacted by the insight they had gained the team decided they wanted to show their support.

Sean Harkin, Valley managing director, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our efforts but mostly about the money raised for the Hospice. We were all pretty far out of our comfort zone but thoroughly enjoyed the experience.”

To show support to Marie Curie, donate to Valley Electrical Services’ Just Giving Page here.

• Councillors reaffirm commitment for new North Coast Care Facility project

Highland Council has reaffirmed its commitment to see a new North Coast Care Facility created to serve Sutherland and given a progress update on the project.

Council officials have been working closely with colleagues in NHS Highland on a feasibility study for two options. The plans are currently being amended to incorporate learning and experience gained on the management of COVID-19 in care homes to ensure that the new design, as far as possible, minimises the impact of this or any other infectious outbreak on residents and staff.

Initially, the feasibility study was for a new unit located on council-owned land in Tongue. However, the adjacent landowner (Wildland) had expressed some views on the proposed design and had engaged architects to review it. Wildland subsequently offered to take forward another option for a different site (owned by Church of Scotland) and for the building to be built by Wildland and leased to NHS. This potentially could be part of a larger hub development in Tongue, possibly including housing, community facilities and commercial units.

At the meeting, members agreed that an options appraisal of the possible build solution for a new facility is taken to the Health and Social Care Committee which takes place on Thursday 12 November with a recommendation sought which provides best value for money and progressing the new development in 2021 owing to the urgent requirement for the new facility. The solution recommended by this committee will then be brought back to Council on December 17th for debate and approval and to the NHS for their consideration.

The decision on which site the new facility will be built on will be subject to further negotiations.

• Cleaner Air for Scotland strategy published

New plans to put improvements in air quality at the heart of Scotland’s green recovery have been set out.

The Scottish Government is consulting on a number of proposals to further reduce air pollution, including potential controls on the supply of wet wood and house coal.

The draft five-year Cleaner Air for Scotland 2 strategy follows the recent Programme for Government, which set out a number of actions being taken forward to ensure a green recovery from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, prioritising support for health, wellbeing and tackling climate change.

The strategy includes taking forward potential measures to control the supply of the most polluting domestic fuels, including wet wood and house coal as well as a continued shift to more sustainable transport modes as set out in the National Transport Strategy.

The consultation will last for 12 weeks and a number of stakeholder events to engage directly with the relevant sectors are planned.