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Category: Urban Union

Safely enjoy the great outdoors no matter what local restrictions are in place!

Here in Scotland we are still restricted by the current tier system with the central belt largely in tier 3. With the nights drawing in and restrictions in place preventing entertainment venues from opening, we will be spending more time indoors. However, it’s important for our mental and physical health to get outside and experience the beauty of nature.

While undertaking social distancing, there are still some things you can do. Here are some suggestions:

Parks and playgrounds

Unlike the lockdown from March, children’s playgrounds are currently still open. Wrap up warm and take your little one’s for some fresh air and to enjoy playground equipment, just remember to take wipes and hand sanitiser when using public play items.

National Trust for Scotland

Take a look what’s currently open in your area – many places are back up and running with cafes still operating. Pre-booking may be required. Find out what’s open.

Local walking and cycling routes

You may have discovered some walking or cycling routes during the lockdown from March, but if not, there are sure to be plenty of country or city walks and routes you can enjoy and you can meet up with another household so you can socialise whilst exercising. Just make sure you wrap up warm!

Garden centres

These are still open and are a great way to get out and discover plants for the garden, bird or squirrel feeders to watch the wildlife and even pick up your Christmas decorations, lights and trees.

Enjoy your terrace, balcony or private/shared garden

Regardless of the weather you can still get out and enjoy your outside space. Depending on where you live, you can spot some beautiful birds at this time of year including Kestrels, Owls, Woodpeckers and more. You can enjoy your garden with your support bubble and household. You could even invest in an outdoor pizza oven, wind-proof gazebo, fairy lighting and patio heater to enable you to make the most of your outside space with friends from your support bubble or your family.

Feed the birds and squirrels

During the winter birds are in need of food – and a great way to enjoy your garden is to take care of the birds with a bird table, bird feeder, bird bath and even nesting materials. When the temperature drops to below freezing it’s important to keep a bird bath topped with fresh water so that they aren’t dehydrated. Also consider feeding squirrels at this time of year.

Bring the outside inside

Want to stay inside? How about bringing the outside in by celebrating nature’s chorus with birdsong. You can get some soundtracks of birds from the internet or even through Alexa or Google Play! Alternatively how about tuning into Autumnwatch or one of the many wildlife programmes available through streaming providers.

Take a look at our current developments. 

 

Urban Union Wins Two Awards at The Scottish Home Awards 2020

We are thrilled to have been recognised at the Scottish Home Awards 2020 with two award wins.

Following last year’s success with the award for Affording Housing Development of the Year (Private Sale) for Muirton Living in Perth, we have been awarded both the Community Contribution Award and the Affording Housing Development of the Year (Private Sale) for Laurieston Living at our highly successful Gorbals site in Glasgow.

Over 100 housebuilders, housing associations and support businesses from across Scotland were entered into the awards.

Winning the Community Contribution award is particularly poignant for us here at Urban Union as our focus isn’t just on building homes but also creating vibrant communities. Community can have a profoundly positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of citizens at a time when the quality of our living spaces and the value of our communities has never been in sharper focus.

Embedded in our developments is the ongoing involvement of the local community. Our aim is to build a long-term relationship with the community and to enhance our offering by promoting healthy lifestyles and community interaction through attractive streets, public spaces and gardens.

For example, we support the Citizen’s Theatre, local school children helping to plant trees at the Pennywell Nature Garden, celebrating local heroes with our Living Legends arts project at LauriestonLiving, running apprenticeship programmes, fostering links to local schools and colleges, to name but a few.

This ties in nicely with our win for the Affordable Housing Development of the Year award for Laurieston Living, as it is here that we partnered with local arts organisation WAVEparticle to create a five-year arts strategy for the area with the ambition of connecting it to the rich history of Laurieston, its people and the aspirations of the community. This idea was sparked from engagement with the local community which forms the cornerstone of our approach to development.

Laurieston Living was our first development and it continues to go from strength to strength with multiple phases already delivered. In fact, we recently handed over our 1,000th property in Scotland to our buyers at this development who were delighted with their new home. The development supports community aspirations and brings the physical improvements, housing and facilities to stimulate social and economic growth.

The key to our success at Laurieston – and in fact all of our developments – are the partnerships we have forged including residents, New Gorbals Housing Association and Glasgow City Council.

We look forward to seeing what the year ahead brings, with all of its challenges!

Neil McKay, Managing Director

Negative interest rates

It has been reported this week that The Bank of England has written to UK banks asking them to prepare for zero or negative interest rates

What does this mean?

Negative interest rates mean that the Bank of England would charge banks money instead of paying them interest on the money they deposit. If the base rate went from the current 0.1% to -0.1% it means that instead of earning interest of 0.1% they would be charged 0.1% by the Bank of England.

It could impact consumers as high street banks base the interest they pay on savings accounts and charge on certain mortgages on the base rate set by the Bank of England.

By charging banks to deposit money it encourages them to lend money to businesses and consumers, rather than hold it in reserve – making it cheaper and easier for businesses to borrow money, which in turn boosts the economy and supports employment.

Consumers

From mortgage rates, savings, pensions and insurance this development could change the way that you manage your money. The thought of interest rates going into negative figures has been discussed by economists for the last few months but last week the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) consisting of high ranking members revealed that it was looking at implementing a bank rate below 0.0%. It currently sits at a record low 0.1%.

Mortgages

In the short-term, homeowners who are on a variable or tracker rate mortgage could see their rate fall slightly but many tracker mortgages have a clause that prevents the interest falling below a certain level. If you’re on a fixed mortgage rate you won’t see any change but if your mortgage deal is nearing the end you may find some competitive deals. Therefore if you’re considering remortgaging ahead of your fixed-rate ending, it could be worthwhile but watch out for any Early Repayment Charges. Talk to a mortgage advisor to find out the best course of action.

Property market

The property market has been booming since lockdown as pent up demand combined with a re-evaluation of priorities has resulted in a flurry of activity. Lower mortgage rates will further rekindle the property market which, in turn, could drive property prices up. As a rule, low borrowing results in more activity in the housing market. Given that higher income jobs haven’t been as much affected as those in professions at the lower end of the earnings scale, expensive properties may increase in price. Property under £300,000 could see a small increase in demand and more stable prices.

Finances

This isn’t good news for savers as they will earn lower or no interest on the money they have in savings accounts. However, it is unlikely that you will have to pay to keep your savings in an account. Those with cash in savings may choose to put their money into fixed-term savings accounts whilst ohers may choose to withdraw their cash which could prompt a rise in spending. In addition borrowing could be very cheap. For those wanting to put their cash somewhere else, they will look for safe, high yield options with a steady return and financial advisors could recommend stocks and shares as an alternative.

Pensions

A low rate environment in terms of the amount which pensions pay out – the annuity rate – has fallen. A representative pension today pays around 4.9 % for every pound in the pension pot, compared with almost 8% back in 2007. A negative rate environment could make this fall further.

With interest rates low – and looking to go even lower, now is a great time to consider securing a mortgage. Talk to us to find out about reserving a new home in one of our regenerated communities.

Here in Glasgow we are blessed with being within easy reach of incredible scenery including lochs, hills, mountains, woodland and beaches. We are less an hour from the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, Ayrshire beaches and ferry links to the islands including Bute and Arran. If you’re looking for a nice hike suitable for the family and accessible by both car and public transport, here are five of our tried and tested recommendations.

Dungoyne

Close to Killearn, the Dungoyne summit on the Campsie Hills can be reached by a steep path and the distance is approximately 2.5 miles. The height of the summit is 427m. It’s a short steep hike with beautiful countryside views at the top. If you’re looking for a longer walk, you can go onto Earle’s Seat which is the highest point in the Campsies.

Find out more about the longer Dumgoyne and Earl’s Seat route.

Conic Hill, Balmaha

Part of the West Highland Way, this is a highly popular hiking route which is around 3m and with a height gain of 360m. Once you reach the summit there are stunning views over Loch Lomond and its islands. The walk is quite steep in places with lots of up and down to give your legs a good workout. The walk can also be extended to form a circular walk of around 6.5m.

You can park at Balmaha carp park off the B837 or catch a train from Glasgow to Balloch and then a bus to Balmaha.

See the Conic Hill route.

Milngavie to Drymen – West Highland Way Stage 1

Another West Highland Way route, the start is at Milngavie and the reward is a stunning view across to Ben Lomond. The route is longer at 12m but the height gain is only 89m. From Milngavie you head through Mugdock Country Park and into open countryside with views of the Campsie Hills.

To get there you can arrive at Milngavie train station if using public transport but to get back you will need to travel by bus from Drymen.

This is the first section of the West Highland Way and gives a great introduction to the famous walking trail.

See the West Highland Way stage one.

The Whangie

This 2.75m walk takes you through the Whangie rocks, a strange rock formation on the Kilpatrick Hills with great views over Loch Lomond and the Campsie Hills. It’s an amazing sight and well worth seeing especially as you can walk through the centre of the rock formation. The walk has a hill climb but is fairly shallow with a height gain of 140m. Take care as the rocks can become slippery when wet.

If you want to extend the walk, head to Auchineden Hill trig point for a climb.

Burnbrooks Reservoir

This 6 mile walk has a height gain of just 108m. Starting at the Edenmill Farm Shop and cafe on Stockiemuir Road (A809), it’s just past Carbeth in Stirlingshire. There is a large car park but it’s difficult by public transport. You could take a train to Milngavie and cycle the West Highland Way to Carbeth.

The route climbs steadily up to reach the reservoir, nestled in the Kilpatrick Hills and you can walk the hilly path either clockwise or anticlockwise.

Helensburgh to Balloch, John Muir Way

The Helensburgh to Ballock section of the John Muir Way will give you beautiful views over the countryside. You’ll know you’re on the right track if you see the John Muir Way signpost at the edge of the woodland. The route takes 9.5 miles with a height gain of 280m. There’s a direct train from Glasgow to Balloch so it’s ideal if you don’t want to take a car.

In total, the John Muir Way is 134 miles cost-to-coast across Scotland, from Helensburgh to Dunbar and is one of Scotland’s most famous trails. Opened in 2014, the trail includes pavement, gravel, paths and forestry.

See the John Muir Way: Helensburgh to Balloch.

 

 

The Scottish Home Awards 2020

We are thrilled to have been named finalists in no less than three categories for this year’s Scottish Home Awards! 

Founded in 2007 the event is run for the benefit of the housebuilding community, with the objective of helping housebuilders and housing associations sell, rent or promote their properties more effectively.

Following entries from 109 housebuilders, housing associations and support businesses from across Scotland we are delighted to have reached the final in the following categories: 

  • Community Contribution award.
  • Affordable Housing Development of the Year (Private Sale) for Laurieston Living.
  • Housing Regeneration Project of the Year for Laurieston Living.

Due to the current limitation on gatherings, the 2020 Scottish Home Awards will be hosted as a virtual event on Thursday 29 October and will include dedicated networking zones, live hosts, entertainment, and video messages which can be watched from the comfort of your own home.

The national awards celebration for housing in Scotland will be hosted as a virtual event this year as plans are now being finalised for a broadcast quality, live digital experience which celebrates the best in new build housing.

Celebrating the best in new build housing, The Scottish Home Awards reported a record-high volume of entries in this year’s competition and working with sponsors, Ross & Liddell, finalists had been announced in 19 categories earlier this year.

Kirsten Speirs, Director of KDMedia, which operates the programme, commented;

“We’re excited to be adding digital events to our Scottish Home Awards programme.  Working with our suppliers and advisers, we have trialled many products over recent weeks and we are feeling very inspired that we can deliver something special for our guests who regularly attend the dinner.

“Digital events are different and will offer an entirely new experience for finalists, winners and sponsors.  The results gained from networking can be much more effective and we can enhance the profile of our sponsors in a new way which can also deliver real results for businesses.   We’re very much looking forward to getting started and continuing this new dimension to the awards in the years ahead.”

Discover more. 

Supporting our young workforce At Urban Union we understand the importance of not only providing affordable housing, but the career opportunities that are created in building homes and communities. As one example, we run apprenticeship programmes whereby we periodically read more

 

Scotland should focus on building communities, not just homes

At Urban Union we specialise in not only delivering outstanding new homes, but regenerating communities. With four developments ongoing in Scotland – Laurieston Living and Pollokshaws Living in Glasgow, Pennywell Living in Edinburgh and Muirton Living in Perth, our ambitious projects aim to deliver homes where they are most needed. Established in 2011 with the aim of working in Glasgow, similar regeneration opportunities followed, and we now deliver housing in key regeneration areas across Scotland.

Community engagement is at the heart of our developments. We aim to build a long term relationship with the  community to ensure the homes we provide are to the wider benefit of the people living where we work. As well as focusing on well-connected sites, building communities enhances our offering by promoting healthy lifestyles and community interaction through attractive streets, public spaces and gardens.

An ongoing commitment to creating high quality, crafted architecture embedded and connected to the wider community is also fundamental to our approach. Too often you will find inconsistent architectural styles, especially in areas where multiple developers have built individual housing more reflective of their brand than existing buildings. This can be prohibitive to a sense of place.

At Urban Union we provide a mix of terraces, townhouses, and apartments in a coherent style, with a variety of house types suitable to first-time buyers and families alike. In addition to one and two-bedroom apartments, our developments include two, three, four and five-bedroom terraced homes and townhouses for growing families looking to put down roots. Our desire is for everyone to be able to enjoy a modern and stylish home at an affordable price.

We have a strong track record in delivering critical regeneration projects to support the demand for high quality, affordable homes and provide an opportunity for people to join the property ladder in key locations. New sustainable mixed tenure communities are facilitated through the provision of new housing, community facilities, green space and, where appropriate, commercial units. Our developments combine superior architecture, urban design and spacious, flexible accommodation.

To date, we have successfully delivered more than a 1,000 homes across our developments and are putting that award-winning experience to good use as we support ongoing regeneration.

Embedded in our developments is the ongoing involvement of the local community. For example supporting the Citizen’s Theatre, local school children helping to plant trees at the Pennywell Nature Garden, celebrating local heroes with our Living Legends arts project at Laurieston, running apprenticeship programmes, fostering links to local schools and colleges, to name but a few.

At our Laurieston Living development in Glasgow, we have partnered with local arts organisation WAVEparticle to create a five-year arts strategy for the area with the ambition of connecting it to the rich history of Laurieston, its people and the aspirations of the community. This idea was sparked from engagement with the local community which forms the cornerstone of our approach to development. As our projects have matured and new phases come to fruition, we have gone back to the community time and again to ensure they are fully on board with plans and help shape the regeneration.

Investing more in this coherent and sustainable approach to regeneration with local communities at the core, will not only help address Scotland’s housing shortfall and support its post-pandemic economic recovery but will have a profoundly positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of its citizens at a time when the quality of our living spaces and the value of our communities has never been in sharper focus.

 

Understanding the importance of social housing

Scottish Housing Day is now in its fifth year and Urban Union are thrilled to celebrate housing in Scotland, particularly with this year’s focus on the value of social housing.

Access to secure, safe, warm and affordable housing is vital to the wellbeing of everyone in our society. With the current Covid19 pandemic, we have been made acutely aware of the importance of social housing.

Although unlike previous years, we are unable to get together face to face for Scottish Housing Day, we will be coming together virtually.

Not only is there an impressive online line-up of speakers including the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart MSP, taking place today, here at Urban Union we will be sharing via social media our views on the importance of social housing. Posts include how we are delivering outstanding new housing, building communities and supporting everyone’s right to a safe, secure and affordable place to call home.

Understanding the value of social housing

Creating a cohesive look which does not distinguish between social and private housing – while ensuring plans include a considered use of green space – allows for areas of differing character to develop which respond to their immediate vicinity and benefit the local landscape.

Housing associations are committed to improving the lives of their residents and communities. Their activities, from building homes to providing community services, are driven by this social purpose.

Well designed and well managed green spaces are essential for the enjoyment of residents. They can be used for play, recreation, socialising and relaxing. They can also provide environments which enhance biodiversity and support climate change adaptation. Positive uses of green, open space can unite people, build communities and contribute to a healthy society.

Accessible and safe green spaces may be important to people’s sense of well being and mental health and be a positive influence on levels of physical activity. What’s more, residents perceptions of safety can be influenced by various factors, one of which is suggested to be the presence of a green neighbourhood, with high trees and grass preserving visibility across spaces. Other research has shown that people who took responsibility for the green spaces close to their home and maintained it, perceived the neighbourhood as safer than those who did not. (F. E. and Sullivan, W. C. (2001) Environmental crime in the inner city: does vegetation reduce crime?).

As we try to imagine what our post-Covid19 future could look like, research has shown there is public support for a ‘green recovery’.  A report by Climate Assembly UK found that people would be prepared to continue many of the lifestyle changes enforced by the lockdown to help tackle the climate emergency and felt governments should take the opportunity to rethink investment in infrastructure.

Working from home is now highly popular and as a result, there has been a change in how – and how often – people travel. This has led the government to rethink investment in infrastructure and support low-carbon industries.

The findings set out below come from Climate Assembly UK, a group of 108 members of the public.

Nearly 80% of the members believed that the measures taken by the government to help the economic recovery from Covid-19 need to be redesigned to help reach net zero with 90% believing government and employers should encourage lifestyle changes to cut emissions.

Affordable housing plays an important part in this. Our high-quality homes are designed to be environmentally, economically and socially sustainable, with good links to public transport and pathways suitable for pedestrians and cyclists. This enables us to deliver what people are increasingly looking for in a home while helping the UK reach net zero.

  Chris and Daniel – Our 1000th Home Mover! We have officially handed over our 1,000th home – just six years after completing our first! This is a huge milestone for us. As part of the Robertson Group, we have four developments across Scotland, including two read more