Building Briefs - April 14

Planning approval has been granted to David Wilson Homes for a development of 138 two-, three- and four-bedroom homes in Strathaven.

The developer, which says the project will bring more than £14 million in new investment to the area, will begin work on the Lauder Gardens scheme this Autumn ahead of opening the first homes in 2016.

David Scott, managing director of David Wilson Homes in the west of Scotland, said: “Lauder Gardens will create a community of 138 homes ranging in design and layout to suit the needs of a wide range of buyers and, with the highest quality fittings and finishes in place, we expect interest in these homes to be high when sales launch in 2016.”

Located off Glassford Road, Lauder Gardens will enjoy an enviable position in the historic South Lanarkshire market town of Strathaven alongside a range of facilities including shops and pubs.

Student housing plan to be submitted for Aberdeen site

Crucible Developments are to submit a planning application later this month for a housing scheme comprising 221 student rooms on the site of a redundant garage on Willowbank Road, Aberdeen.

The Michael Laird Architects-designed build will incorporate a café, games room and communal space arranged around a courtyard garden and parking space the scheme follows an ongoing trend of residential expansion in the area.

In a design statement the architects noted: “The development will help to complete the streetscape of the junction at Willowbank Road and Hardgate, while also addressing issues relating to the site’s integration to existing housing on Union Glen to the north.

“High quality architecture will create a suitable focal point for this site, highly visible as it is, sitting on this long, sweeping corner.”

A planning application is expected imminently with work set to get underway next year.

North Lanarkshire Council wins eco homes award

North Lanarkshire Council has secured the prestigious team of the year award at the National Green Deal & ECO Awards.

The council’s Local Homes energy team secured first place against competition from across Scotland for providing heating solutions and practical energy-saving tips, as well as installing new thermal performance solutions and external wall insulation at almost 800 privately- and council-owned properties.

Des Murray, head of housing property, said: “We have been working hard to improve homes across our communities and to secure this top award is an outstanding achievement.

“Everyone knows the importance of having a warm and eco-friendly home, and we want to help people achieve this while also saving them money on their household bills.

“Our team focuses on providing tailored solutions for our residents, identifying a range of measures including cavity and external wall insulation and efficient heating solutions.

“In addition, we are currently running our collective Big Switch money saving campaign to encourage people to sign up and save money on their future fuel bills.”

Scottish house price inflation at 6.4 per cent

The latest House Prices Index bulletin from the UK government’s Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed house price annual inflation at 6.4 per cent in Scotland.

The rate is down from 7.8 per cent in the year to January 2015.

Overall, UK house prices increased 7.2 per cent in the year to February 2015, down from 8.4 per cent in the year to January 2015. The new statistical bulletin shows that annual house price growth is showing signs of slowing across most of the UK.

On a seasonally adjusted basis, average UK house prices increased by 0.6 per cent between January and February 2015. In February 2015, prices paid by first-time buyers were 7.4 per cent higher on average than in February 2014.

The average house price in Scotland in February 2015 was £194,000, significantly lower than the UK average of £268,000 - but higher than the averages of £170,000 and £152,000 in Wales and Northern Ireland respectively.

UK inflation at zero per cent

Latest data from the Office for National Statistics has shown the UK’s inflation rate remained at a record low of 0 per cent in March.

The official figures show cheaper clothing and footwear, offset by a rise in petrol prices, helped to maintain the rate at 0 per cent for a second month.

The figure was the lowest rate of Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation since estimates of the measure began in the late 1980s.

It means the cost of living is broadly the same as it was a year earlier.

However, the ONS said that if the rate of inflation was calculated to two decimal places, prices were 0.01 per cent lower than a year before - a first fall on record for the CPI measure.

The CPI figure leaves inflation well below the Bank of England’s 2 per cent target.

Scotsman Hotel to expand

Bosses at Edinburgh’s five star Scotsman Hotel are to announce a ten-room extension on the back of staff cut savings.

However, the news comes as staff at the North Bridge hotel have been warned that management are currently determining those eligible for voluntary redundancy.

But general manager Helen Gallagher said that while cuts need to be made, the “restructuring” was designed to make the hotel “more efficient” and allow for the creation of a minimum of ten new rooms.

February mortgage lending decline –CML

Home-owner house purchase lending declined in February both compared to the previous month and February 2014.

The number of loans advanced totalled 40,600, down 1 per cent on January and 16 per cent compared to the same month in 2014, according to latest data from the Council for Mortgage Lenders.

The loans totaled £6.8bn, which was down 3 per cent on January and 13 per cent on February last year.

There were 18,700 loans advanced to first-time buyers - down 1 per cent on January and 16 per cent compared to February 2014. These loans by value were £2.7 billion, which was down 4 per cent on January and 13 per cent down on February last year.

Home movers were advanced 21,900 loans, a decline of 2 per cent compared to January and 16 per cent down year-on-year. These loans totalled in value £4.1bn – 2 per cent down on January and 13 per cent down compared to February 2014.

Remortgage lending decreased month-on-month with 21,500 loans advanced - down 16 per cent on January and 14 per cent down on February 2014.

The value of these loans (£3.3 billion) also decreased month-on-month by 20 per cent and was down 11 per cent year-on-year compared to February 2014.

There were 15,900 buy-to-let loans in February - down 13 per cent on the previous month but up 11 per cent on the same period in 2014. These loans came to £2.2bn in value, down 12 per cent compared to January but up 16 per cent on February 2014.