| Central Quay further fuels Glasgow hotel growth
Glasgow’s hotel rush shows no sign of abating with news that the 189 bed, 4* Hotel La Tour from Featherstone Austin Woodward Architects is to spearhead the next phase of Central Quay development. A late 2008 start is anticipated for a 1 year build.
Architecture Scotland, 21.7.08 http://www.architecturescotland.co.uk/news/721/Central_Quay_further_fuels_Glasgow_hotel_growth.html
Hotels push reshapes Jamaica Street
New 115 bed hotel provision is proposed by Greystones Ltd and ARM Architects to augment Glasgow's exponentially mushrooming stock. Located at a long standing gapsite of some 5 years, the hotel aims to heal a wound in the streetscape whilst simultaneously contextualising the neighbouring Grade A listed Gardners Warehouse.
Architecture Scotland, 21.7.08
http://www.architecturescotland.co.uk/news/723/Hotels_push_reshapes_Jamaica_Street.html
Feddinch golf project on hold, not dropped
Plans to develop a new multi-million private golf course and exclusive members club at Feddinch, near St Andrews, are “on hold” but have not been dropped. This has been confirmed by one of the richest men in the USA, billionaire Tim Blixseth, at a time when the worldwide credit crunch is putting international property development plans at risk.
The Courier, 22.7.08
http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/07/22/newsstory11691207t0.asp
Racecourse revamp on track to start before end of year
New stable blocks, a community centre, a cafe and a BMX track are set to be built at Musselburgh Racecourse by the end of the year. East Lothian Council has granted permission for the multi-million pound redevelopment, and racecourse directors say they want work to start "as soon as possible". They are finalising the plans for financing the project and the estimated £2.2 million cost will be split between the council, the racecourse and the Common Good Fund.
Evening News, 21.7.08, page 8
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Racecourse-revamp-on-track-to.4307679.jp
Construction leads
Today’s column includes details of planning applications involving Vinanian Developments Limited and GHA/Maryhill LHO, amongst others.
Scottish Construction News, 22.7.08
http://www.scottishconstructionnews.com/scottish/dailynews.asp#H89883
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Company news |
House-builder to axe almost 300 jobs
The Stewart Milne Group, one of Scotland's biggest construction companies, became the latest casualty of the house-building slump yesterday as it announced plans to make nearly 300 of its staff redundant. The job losses amount to a fifth of the company's permanent UK workforce and almost half the job losses will be in the North-east.
The Scotsman, 22.7.08, page 9
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Building--firm-forced-to.4309961.jp
Austen needed no persuasion
Terrace Hill, the Glasgow-based property firm, has named Jon Austen as its new finance director. Austen, who joins from property business Goodman Group, will take up the post on 1 September. He replaces Tom Walsh, who steps down from the board of Terrace Hill to take up the new role of deputy finance director. Chairman Robert Adair said: “We are delighted to be further strengthening our senior management team through Jon’s appointment.”
The Scotsman, 22.7.08, page 29
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Housing |
Land trusts to gain legal status
A scheme that allows prospective homeowners to buy houses without also having to pay for land is to gain legal status. A government amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Bill will set out the legislative proposals needed to create Community Land Trusts. Under the schemes, buyers pay for a house, but not for the land. Instead this is held by the Community Land Trust. The community is responsible for developing the land to meet the needs of residents, such as first-time buyers and young families. Trusts have struggled to get off the ground due to the lack of a clear legal status.
Inside Housing, 21.7.08
http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/story.aspx?storycode=6500501
GHA continues regeneration programme with more demolition
Glasgow Housing Association has continued its regeneration programme with the demolition of 12 Riverford Road and 21 Riverbank Street multis. The 23-storey high rise blocks, which comprised 105 households each, were originally built in 1967 and were once home to around 500 people. They were recommended for demolition following a decline in demand and popularity of the blocks along with high investment and running costs and the emerging regeneration plans for the wider area.
Scottish Housing News, 22.7.08
http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/dailynews.asp#H175003
Planners set to turn down homes plan
Proposals to demolish vacant industrial buildings to create a housing development are set to be refused by West Lothian Planning department. The site was formerly home to a variety of commercial units and a large house, and the proposals would have seen all of the existing buildings on the site, at Glasgow Road, Bathgate, torn down to make way for a modern development of 54 homes and associated car parking. But while officials have said the development is acceptable in principle, a lack of capacity at local schools had led to them recommending it be refused.
Evening News, 21.7.08, page 12
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Planners-set-to-turn-down.4307686.jp
Homes plan for Queen Victoria's old haunt
The owner of a historic country estate in East Lothian visited by Queen Victoria in 1878 has revealed plans to develop 25 upmarket holiday homes within its grounds. Chester-based developer Simon Flame, who purchased the Broxmouth Estate near Dunbar for £2 million in 2003, says he hopes the project will create jobs and generate an extra £1m for the business every year. A planning application has been lodged with East Lothian Council.
Evening News, 21.7.08
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Homes-plan-for-Queen-Victoria39s.4307656.jp
Owner's £50k cash back offer fails to tempt house buyers
A homeowner who offered £50,000 cash back to anyone who would buy his four-bedroom Edinburgh home is set to take the property off the market after it failed to sell.
Evening News, 21.7.08, page 10
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Owners-50k-cash-back-offer.4307688.jp
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Deals |
Commercial property deals
This week’s column contains details of deals involving Willie Miller; the Enterprise North-East Trust and the Wood Group; OLM Group and 360 Innovate, Land & Property Holdings of Glasgow; Frazer and Linnell Precision Engineering.
The Scotsman, 22.7.08, page 53
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Trends |
Edinburgh waiting for much-needed offices
It’s hunger or burst in the Edinburgh office market, with construction in the city centre this year the lowest for more than ten years – but a total of 649,000 sq ft of available space is due for completion next year. In the meantime, says Drivers Jonas in its latest Edinburgh Crane Survey, with demand in the city centre continuing to outstrip supply, it will be a time of pre-lets and early-lets ahead of the new stock coming on to the market next year.
The Scotsman, 22.7.08, page 53
Rented homes demand soars
Demand for homes to rent is soaring in Edinburgh thanks to the credit crunch putting people off buying property. Property firm Grant Management, which has about 1000 homes in the Capital, has 94 per cent occupancy levels in Edinburgh. The company believes the rental market is the healthiest it has been in years.
Evening News, 21.7.08, page 19
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Miscellaneous |
Promenade vision condemned as blueprint for a 'blandscape'
An ambitious plan to create a 17-kilometre coastline walkway from Cramond to Joppa has been dismissed as "bland in the extreme". The promenade proposal would see the walkway mirror similar projects in Nice, Blackpool and Copenhagen and provide room for walkers, cyclists and even skateboarders to enjoy shoreline activity the length of Edinburgh. But in a response to the consultation, groups have joined together to pour scorn on the blueprint.
Evening News, 21.7.08, page 13
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/latestnews/Promenade-vision-condemned-as-blueprint.4307636.jp
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