The Herald - The Herald Magazine
THE VOICE OF PROPERTY
IN recent years Finnieston has been lauded as Glasgow’s newest property hotspot – an extension of the West End, owing to its proliferation of trendy gin bars and eateries, entertainment venues, transport links and media neighbours only a stone’s throw across the city’s landmark Squinty bridge.
But now it seems there’s a new property kid on the block and according to Ewan Blair, partner at Corum’s Shawlands office, cool trendy West Enders now want to be south of the river in Strathbungo – and property prices in this niche area between Shawlands and Pollokshields have shot up in the last two years.
According to Blair, Strathbungo is now “hipster central” and not just for first time buyers. “Young families with children are snapping up period terraced townhouses in Moray Place and the Squares – Marywood, Regent’s Park, Queen,” he says. “And they are loving the fact that it’s a child-friendly cosmopolitan community with artisan shops and great restaurants. Prices have risen 20 per cent in the last 24 months and terraced townhouses have hit £600,000.”
Young families are drawn to the active community vibe and mix of attractions, which include Queen’s Park, good schools (including Hutchesons’ Grammar School) and one of only two Woodland Outdoor Kindergartens in Scotland, in Pollok Country Park. Property prices start from around £100,000 for a one-bedroomed flat. Rettie’s Shawlands branch also reports a resurgence of interest in the area. Associate director Jonathan Riley, comments: “Strathbungo is very much in the spotlight.”
PRICES UP IN SCOTLAND
THE monthly UK House Price Index published by Registers of Scotland, shows the average price of a property in Scotland in June this year was £150,472 – a year-on-year increase of 4.8 per cent, compared to the UK average of £228,384 (up 3.0 per cent). Only four local authorities recorded improved sales volumes – the highest in East Lothian and Perth & Kinross, while the biggest drop in sales volumes were in Argyll and Bute, Stirling and Inverclyde.