Leading UK homebuilder, Miller Homes is launching a brand-new development in Edinburgh this Saturday (22 June), bringing 152 homes, including 39 affordable, to a popular residential area just south of the bustling capital.

Edgelaw View will comprise a mix of two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom townhouses and three and four-bedroom family homes, providing buyers of all ages and stages in Edinburgh with plenty of choice when it comes to new build homes. The development follows the success of Edgelaw, Miller Homes’ 2019 development in the area, and aims to meet the demand for energy efficient homes within easy reach of Edinburgh.

In a move towards helping buyers live sustainably and reduce energy costs, each Miller home at the new Edgelaw View development will come with solar panels and the development will feature electric vehicle charging points.

Speaking about the upcoming launch, Regional Sales Director for Miller Homes Scotland East, Neil Gaffney said: “We’re excited to start selling homes at Edgelaw View and make our return to the area after the huge success of Edgelaw.

“The new development has something for a wide range of buyers, whether they’re looking to get a foot on the property ladder, upsize to a larger home, or downsize to a convenient location near Edinburgh. Given the demand for new homes near the city centre, we’re expecting a big uptake on the styles released for sale this weekend so would encourage buyers considering a move to register their interest now.”

The first homes at Edgelaw View, which are currently being built, will be ready to move into later this year, and buyers will get the chance to explore Miller Homes’ only townhouse showhome in Scotland when it opens early 2025.

Edgelaw View is being sold from Miller Homes’ Carberry Grange development, located off Whitecraig Road, Whitecraig, East Lothian EH21 8PG.

To be kept up to date with the latest news on Edgelaw View, or to find out more about the upcoming development, visit www.millerhomes.co.uk.

Reacting to the Bank of England’s latest interest rate decision, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Today’s decision was widely expected, and it’s clear the Bank of England is taking a cautious approach before making a much-anticipated rate cut.

“Yesterday’s data showing CPI inflation on target was encouraging. However, service sector inflation and average earnings growth remain relatively high – two metrics the Bank will be focused on. In line with the easing inflation rate, our latest forecast expects the Bank to cut the interest rate to 4.75% by the end of the year.

“Rate cuts, when they come, will provide welcome breathing space for the companies we represent across the UK. Our research shows that while business concern about the cost of borrowing has been easing it remains at historically high levels. Many firms have told us they have been put off from investing due to high borrowing costs, and this has no doubt been a drag on overall economic growth.

“A rate cut will help encourage businesses to invest, but policymakers need to look at a much broader range of measures to support long-term growth. “Our election manifesto calls for immediate action by the next government on a green industrial strategy, better skills planning, business rate reform, improved relations with the EU, and support for SMEs to embrace AI.”

Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh, managed by global hotel management company, Valor Hospitality, has unveiled its brand-new restaurant and bar concept, 1802 Lounge and Grill. 

Named after the year the hotel was first built, the new eatery will open its doors on Monday 13th May, and will be closely followed by the 1802 Terrace, an accompanying outdoor space that will be open to the public later in the month. 

The restaurant will be open to guests and the public, and will be ideally situated just a five-minute walk from the opulent Princes Street, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Theatre goers will also be able to benefit from the new lounge and grill, a stone’s throw from the historic Edinburgh Playhouse. 

Guests can look forward to dining on an exclusive new menu, for which the kitchen team have collaborated closely with Scottish suppliers to source ingredients, which are named as local food heroes – from family-owned Campbells hand-cut meat to Welch Fishmongers, who specialise in sustainably sourced fish from the North Sea and Scotland’s many rivers and lochs. With the menu promising fresh produce from haggis bon bons to Scottish seafood linguine, Scottish culture is front and centre of the 1802 Lounge & Grill concept. 

Diners can enjoy their meal in style at the venue, relaxing in newly refreshed surroundings. The colour palette of the ground floor of the hotel has been updated, taking on a luxurious blue and gold art deco style, with a statement bar area, which takes inspiration from the prohibition era with a speakeasy feel.  

Ronald Little, General Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh commented: 

“We’re delighted to announce our brand-new restaurant, 1802 Lounge & Grill. Our team look forward to welcoming guests, locals, theatre goers and visitors alike, to sample some of our locally sourced Scottish produce, when we open our doors in May. Brian McCarthy, Managing Director of Valor Hospitality UK & Europe said: 

“We are so passionate about making our hotel restaurants feel like a destination in their own right, and we really believe the 1802 Lounge & Grill will be just that. The team have worked tirelessly to put together a menu that supports the local supply chain and is packed with locally sourced, quality ingredients. It’s all part of our commitment to going above and beyond for our guests and integrating with our local communities.” 

For more on Courtyard by Marriott Edinburgh, visit the website: https://www.1802loungeandgrill.co.uk/

 

Over 300 trophies will be competed for and awarded at this weekend’s Royal Highland Show, which is Scotland’s largest outdoor event and one of Europe’s best agribusiness Shows.

In preparation, Alain Wright, House and Heritage Officer for RHASS (the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland), the organisers of the Royal Highland Show, has been preparing the 327 prestigious trophies.

From a 15-carat yellow gold masterpiece, to the tallest award reaching over one meter, each trophy in the remarkable collection tells a unique story of heritage, craftsmanship, and achievement. Alain’s dedication to preserving this legacy requires meticulous maintenance. Most trophies take on average one hour to polish which if done conservatively, would take Alain 40 days of non-stop cleaning and polishing for eight hours a day.

The largest trophies among the collection, the McMurchie Memorial Trophy and the Knockbrex Perpetual Silver Challenge Cup, each weigh around 265ozt. (16.5 pounds) and can take up to 17 hours for a thorough polish.

The trophy’s hold immense value and prestige, honouring the hard work of their recipients. Offering insight into the history and significance of the esteemed collection Alain Wright, House and Heritage Officer for RHASS, said: “It’s an honour and privilege to work with these trophies, not just for their intrinsic value, but for the incredible workmanship and fascinating stories behind them which I find joy in uncovering.

“The Queen’s Cup for example stands out as a sterling silver masterpiece, featuring the Royal Arms and a detailed inscription. Presented by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1960 to commemorate her presidency of the Royal Highland Show, the circulating trophy alternates around the Sections of Livestock Competitions and will this year be awarded in the Dairy Cattle section.

“The collection’s oldest trophy, crafted in 1863, became part of RHASS in 2022. The oldest trophy actively competed for dates back to 1903. The McDiarmid Cup, another notable piece, is celebrated for its exquisite Scottish-themed design and silversmith craftsmanship, standing 53cm tall and is richly decorated.

“It’ll be a joy to see this year’s winning competitors lift the trophies as part of their celebrations.

Responding to the latest inflation data published by ONS, David Bharier, Head of Research at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:

“Today’s data showing CPI easing to the Bank of England’s 2% target, is a further sign that the UK is exiting the inflation crisis which began in late 2020. It provides additional weight for an interest rate cut in the coming months, something which will be welcomed by firms of all shapes and sizes.

“Our research has shown that a steadily declining number of businesses are concerned about inflation, from a record peak of 84% in mid 2022. This is positive news, but prices are not falling, just rising more slowly, and the economic outlook remains challenging. Our latest forecast expects inflation to nudge back up again to 2.3% by the end of the year.

“To restore economic growth and stability, policymakers should focus on the long-term. Our election manifesto outlines a 5-point plan for immediate action by the new government. We need a green industrial strategy, better skills planning, business rate reform, improved relations with the EU, and support for SMEs to embrace AI.

“Our manifesto has been welcomed by all the main parties and gives a clear blueprint for action after July 4th.”
ENDS

ESPC, the leading Scottish property portal, has announced that it will dedicate its charity fundraising efforts to the Scottish youth homelessness charity Rock Trust for its 2024/25 business year.

Rock Trust aims to end youth homelessness in Scotland by ensuring that every young person can access specific services to assist them in avoiding, surviving and moving on from homelessness. This includes providing emergency accommodation, a youth-specific housing association and funds to assist young people in finding and retaining rented accommodation, as well as providing homelessness prevention services, health and wellbeing support and a ‘one-stop shop’ Youth Hub in the charity’s Edinburgh headquarters, where young people at risk of homelessness can access tailored advice, activities and food provisions.

At a time when Scotland has officially declared a housing emergency and the country remains in the grip of the cost-of-living crisis, it has never been more important to explore the ways in which young people stepping out into the world can access the support and funding required to ensure that they can avoid experiencing the horrors of homelessness. As the leading voice of and force in the local property market for over 50 years, ESPC is dedicated to supporting local people in finding a home they can call their own and will be supporting Rock Trust throughout its coming business year, which began on June 1 2024.

ESPC will support the charity through a variety of initiatives, including offering its staff to volunteer at the charity’s headquarters in Edinburgh’s New Town, alongside supporting its fundraising efforts through a full calendar of planned activities including ESPC’s annual charity quiz night.

Paul Hilton, CEO of ESPC, commented: “As we enter our new business year and being mindful of the recently declared Scottish housing emergency, we could think of nothing more meaningful than working with Rock Trust and dedicating our charity efforts to their extremely important cause this year. Not everyone is in the fortunate position of being able to own a home, or to be able to rent a property without support, but we share the common view of Rock Trust in that everyone should have somewhere safe that they can call home. We feel that this charity is an ideal fit for ESPC and shares our common values of wanting to build better futures and ensuring that everyone can enjoy the security of a home of their own. We very much look forward to working with them this year and we hope that our efforts can help to make a difference to young people at risk of experiencing homelessness.”

Joanne Simpson, Partnerships Lead at Rock Trust, said: “At Rock Trust, we are delighted to be chosen as ESPC’s charity partner! We are so grateful that the team at ESPC has chosen to support young people experiencing homelessness, as more and more areas declare housing emergencies. With their valuable knowledge, skills, and enthusiasm, we are confident that ESPC will play an important role in helping us to end youth homelessness in Scotland.”

Following a successful refresh of the Edinburgh Zoo’s Penguin Café last year, Design & Build specialists Space Solutions has worked with the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) to transform two further hospitality spaces: the Grasslands Café and Mansion Bar. The recent completion marks three projects delivered by SPACE at one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions.

The café and bar form part of the historic Mansion House, originally built in 1793, which sits in the heart of Edinburgh Zoo and functions as a year-round event venue as well as a destination for visitors to relax and refresh.

Led by Senior Interior Designer, Isobel Jones-Watt, the cafe and bar now have flexible furniture options and updated interiors allowing the spaces to transform as needed to accommodate different guests and events. In the café, dark ceilings, large wall graphics and a colour palette inspired by the dry grasslands themselves give the space a new bolder look, while the mansion bar’s softer palette is accented by feature wallpaper and colour blocking to complement the bar’s historic architecture.

Further upgrades, including improving noise distribution with suspended acoustic baffles from the high ceilings as well as updating the toilet facilities.

Isobel said: “Our initial reaction to the Grasslands Café was to break up the space by introducing angles in both flooring transitions, furniture layout and suspended ceiling features. This mimicked more movement to represent the grassland’s natural environment, in a space which previously resembled a linear canteen. Much like the Penguin Café, we developed an identity for the Grasslands with graphic designer Heather Cumming, which complimented our bold colour palette alongside featured full bleed black and white imagery (see if you can spot some Zoo residents!) which in turn provided a warm, playful yet functional space for dining.”

Beccy Angus, head of discovery and learning at RZSS, said: “We are delighted to have continued our collaboration with SPACE on two of our wildlife conservation charity’s most popular hospitality spaces. RZSS’s mission is to create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved, and the refresh of Grasslands and Mansion Bar offer improved spaces where we can encourage people to relax and reflect during their time at the zoo.”

Space Solutions has been creating award-winning interiors since 1997. The business continues to develop the concept of workplace consultancy & design and has worked with major public & private organisations across the UK. The business has locations in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee Livingston and London and employs 180 members of staff.

Balfour Beatty today announces that it has been awarded a contract to construct three new substations in Argyll, Scotland, on behalf of SSEN Transmission. The contract has been awarded through the GIS2 RIIO T2 framework, to which the company was appointed in 2022.

The contract will see Balfour Beatty unite its Power Transmission & Distribution expertise with its regional capabilities in Scotland, to design and build the three new 275kV substations in Craig Murrail, An Suidhe, and Crarae.

The new substations form part of SSEN Transmission’s Argyll and Kintyre reinforcement strategy and on completion, will enhance and strengthen the electrical transmission infrastructure in Argyll to support the expected rise in renewable energy production in the region.

Balfour Beatty’s selection builds on its proven expertise in the successful delivery of energy projects in Scotland demonstrated by the recent completion of the Peterhead Substation and the company’s appointment to deliver nine schemes through SSEN Transmission’s Accelerated Strategic Transmission Investment framework.

In addition, as part of its commitment to leaving a lasting, positive legacy in the communities in which it operates, Balfour Beatty will employ a minimum of 50% of its workforce from the local, surrounding area.

Tony Wilson, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty UK Power Transmission & Distribution, said: “Today’s announcement marks an important milestone in SSEN Transmission’s Argyll and Kintyre reinforcement works – a project that is crucial for enhancing substation infrastructure in the region.

“Our expertise in substation delivery, coupled with our local experience, make us the perfect fit to tackle the challenges ahead, deliver the project to the highest of standards and secure the supply of renewable energy to homes and businesses in the region.”

Hector MacAulay MBE, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty’s regional business in Scotland, said: “We are pleased to be working alongside SSEN Transmission to contribute to Scotland’s renewable energy journey.

“Our commitment to collaboration, the environment and positive social impact will ensure that we not only make a meaningful impact on the region’s energy landscape, but also leave behind a lasting legacy for the communities in Argyll.”

Main construction is due to start late Summer 2024. At construction peak, Balfour Beatty will employ approximately 200 people including a number of apprentice, graduate and trainee positions.

Balfour Beatty has compelling end-to-end capabilities in the UK energy market. Find out more. 

Last week marked a key milestone in the race for Number 10, with many of the major political parties releasing their manifestos for the next term of Government.

Each of the parties’ fiscal projections include plans for various tax rises and cuts, inevitably stirring apprehensions around how such changes could impact your personal tax position.

No surprises from main contenders

From a personal tax perspective, there were no ‘rabbits pulled out of the hat’ by the major contenders. These parties have taken a more cautious approach, reiterating tax reforms previously announced, such as the Conservatives’ plans to cut National Insurance Contributions (NIC) for employees by 2% (from 8% to 6%) and Labour’s commitment to not increase income tax or NIC rates.

Coalition considerations

Bolder tax reforms have been outlined by the other parties, which may form an integral part of negotiations should a coalition government be established. The main headlines include the Liberal Democrats’ plans to increase the rates of Capital Gains Tax to be more aligned with Income Tax, and the Green Party’s intention to introduce a Wealth Tax of 1% annually on assets above £10 million and 2% on assets above £1 billion.

While these headline stories have been garnering plenty of column inches, and indeed forming a large portion of the narrative of this election campaign, there is still a great deal of uncertainty surrounding individuals’ personal tax affairs. Will there be any changes to the taxation of pensions and the availability for tax relief on contributions? When will further detail be provided on the scrapping on the ‘Non-Dom’ regime? Should we expect any changes to Inheritance Tax?

What does this all mean for me?

As we outlined in our previous blog, which can be found here, we recommend that taxpayers review their overall tax position in the lead up to the General Election, taking into consideration plans for the future.

Post-4^th July, any incoming Government will likely look to hold an Emergency Budget. Labour Shadow Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has previously confirmed that if her party gets elected, she would wait for the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) to deliver a forecast before any fiscal event.

An OBR forecast typically takes around 10 weeks, therefore an Emergency Budget is not likely to take place until the Autumn. This provides a small window to put plans in place and it will be critical for individuals and advisors to act quickly and efficiently once there is clarity on the situation.

Stay tuned folks

We will continue to monitor party communications in the coming weeks. Follow our LinkedIn page for up-to-date commentary on all things fiscal in the run up to the Election.

In the meantime, should you require any further information on the proposed tax changes and what they could mean for your particular circumstances, please don’t hesitate to contact Paula Fraser, Blair Hay, or your usual AAB adviser.

New hires prime Scottish law firm for continued growth

Independent law firm Anderson Strathern has reinforced its senior team with the appointment of one partner and a further three directors.

The hires strengthen Anderson Strathern’s dispute resolution, rural, and data & technology teams, while contributing sectoral expertise spanning health & safety, construction & engineering, agriculture and data protection.

• Michael Collinsjoins as a partner in the firm’s dispute resolution team, heading up the team’s contentious construction unit. Michael provides specialist advice and representation for clients in a wide variety of construction and engineering disputes, acting for contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers and consultants, as well as public bodies and insurers. Michael regularly advises clients in disputes over payment and delays, as well as complex and high value claims arising from workmanship and design defects. As a solicitor advocate, he represents clients in the Sherriff Court and the Court of Session, as well as at adjudication and mediation.
• Director Ellen Eunson specialises in rural land and business. She is an accredited expert in agricultural law and her work includes property sales and purchases, bank securities, succession planning, partnerships, agricultural leases, crofting, and renewables. Originally from the northeast of Scotland, she is now based in Orkney serving clients in the islands and in the north of the mainland. Ellen has a thorough understanding of the practicalities of farming and is the only accredited specialist in agricultural law in the northern isles.
• David Freelandis a director and information governance advisor, bringing a wealth of experience from his tenure at the Information Commissioner’s Office. Working in the firm’s corporate data and technology team, he advises public, private, and voluntary sector clients on data protection law – including data subject rights, data protection by design and default, law enforcement processing, direct marketing, and international transfers.

• Julia McDonald joins as a director in Anderson Strathern’s dispute resolution team, bringing extensive expertise in defender personal injury litigation and representation at fatal accident inquiries in the Sheriff Court. Recognised as a rising star by the Legal 500 in personal injury defence in Scotland, Julia’s proficiency in advising insurers, employers, and public sector clients on complex employer liability, public liability and motor claims enhances the firm’s capabilities in navigating high-value litigation matters.

Fraser Geddes, chair at Anderson Strathern said: “These appointments exemplify Anderson Strathern’s strategic vision of expanding its expertise in line with the legal needs facing our clients, as well as ensuring the firm can continue its successful growth strategy.”