The Herald - The Herald Magazine
THE VOICE OF PROPERTY
EAST Renfrewshire is second only to Edinburgh as the most expensive place to buy a home in Scotland – the average price in the region in August this year was £232,975, according to Registers of Scotland. Incorporating sought after leafy suburbs such as Giffnock, Clarkston and Newton Mearns as well as the outlying villages of Eaglesham, Neilston and Uplawmoor, the population has been steadily growing owing to the mix of environmental benefits (77% of properties are within 200 metres of green space), schools consistently amongst the highest performing in Scotland, good transport links and a buoyant housing market where 82 per cent of housing stock is owner occupied. East Renfrewshire is an area young families aspire to – but as the population – and life expectancy of residents – grows, there are concerns it is putting pressure on infrastructure.
“East Renfrewshire caters particularly well for families,” comments Savills research director Faisal Choudhry. “High performing schools are a major draw. However supply puts pressure on prices and the challenge going forward, is that the infrastructure needs to be improved in line with the increasing number of residents,” he adds.
East Renfrewshire residents, local groups and organisations now have an opportunity to have their say following publication of East Renfrewshire Council’s Proposed Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2), which sets out the authority’s land use planning strategy and includes transport links, managing housing demands and protecting and enhancing the built and natural environments.
Alan Lafferty, councillor and convener for the environment, comments: “This is such an important consultation I would encourage all our residents to participate. LDP2 is central to delivering our vision for East Renfrewshire to be one of Scotland’s finest and most vibrant areas.”
The consultation period runs until December 13, 2019 and information can be accessed online at eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk, by phone (0141 577 3001) or from local libraries and drop-in sessions.
PROPERTY NIGHTMARE
WHETHER you are clearing up all the pumpkins and sweet wrappers, or planning full-on Hallowe’en party weekend, spare a thought for those suffering a Hallowe’en property nightmare. A press release from Yorkshire Building Society shows that homes with Elm Street addresses in the UK sell for an average of £57,357 less than nearby properties. Apparently, sellers on Elm Street in Stanley, County Durham, have endured the biggest nightmare, by receiving 68 per cent less (over £64,000) compared to other properties sold in the local area. The good news is that having scanned the list of Top Ten UK Elm Streets, I can safely say none are in Scotland.