31/01/2012GS Residential review for January 2012

Following a relatively bleak December the residential market has again picked up its pace with many new properties coming to the market throughout January.
In turn, selling agents are reporting increased enquiry levels and viewings, undoubtedly helped by the milder winter weather being experienced so far this year. Additionally a large number of Replacement Home Report instructions have been received, indicating older stock is continuing to sell.  Despite the relatively depressed wider national and global economies, it would appear that Aberdeen and the surrounding Shire commuting towns continue to buck the trend somewhat.
Darroch Robertson, Associate, Aberdeen Office

The start of a new year is always unpredictable. However, we have seen a good level of Home Report instructions in January. I do believe it makes sense to bring a home to the market early in the year to take advantage of any prospective purchasers out there. We have also undertaken a similar number of Replacement Home Reports, an indication that properties that have been on the market are now selling or going under offer. Whilst not dismissing the challenging market we will be operating in, I have an optimistic outlook for the year ahead.
Graeme Lusk, Associate, Kilmarnock Office

Photo: Darroch Robertson, Aberdeen Office

25/01/2012Graham + Sibbald scoring high!

Graham + Sibbald is delighted to be one of the leading Chartered Surveyors,  according to the CoStar’s Industrial Agency League Table 2010-2011.

Graham + Sibbald is pleased to report strengthening levels of demand for industrial properties throughout the central belt and the northern parts of Scotland. The Inverness office indicates a clear sign of increased activity of transaction of industrial units throughout the Highlands and Islands whilst Aberdeen has witnessed a healthy market for industrial accommodation throughout 2010 and continued into 2011.

We were awarded the thropies for being in the top 5 in the following categories:
Availibilty of Sq ft; Number of Instructions; Disposals Sq ft and Number of disposals.

Simpson Buglass from the Aberdeen office comments: "Aberdeen has witnessed a healthy market for industrial accommodation throughout 2010 and continued into 2011. This period saw Knight Property Group complete its very successful Kirkhill Commercial Park, Dyce with occupation of the c.60,000sqft offshore training and survival centre design and build for Survivex, and letting of c.14,000sqft Unit 3 to Schilling Robotics. The Chancellor’s surprise announcement of additional tax for oil + gas companies late March 2011 put a brake on the market for about eight weeks but activity is up again with disposals achieved across town and increased interest in lower cost units."

Photo: Ltr: Ian Gillies, Senior Partner & Alex Fowler, CoStar UK

21/12/2011Graham + Sibbald to support our heroes at Christmas

Leading firm of chartered surveyors, Graham + Sibbald have donated £1000 to help the charity ‘Poppy Scotland - Supporting our Heroes’.

The money has been generated by sending an e-card at Christmas to the company’s clients rather than the more costly process of posting off traditional printed cards. This year Graham + Sibbald decided to donate to Poppy Scotland.

Robert McRae from Poppy Scotland who received the cheque, said he was delighted with this gift as the money will be put to good use for therapy, housing, mobility aids and retraining the veterans. Without these donations, none of this would be possible.

Ian Gillies, Senior Partner at Graham + Sibbald said: “At Graham + Sibbald, the environment and social responsibility rank high on our business agenda. We are delighted therefore to have reduced our carbon footprint by distributing e-cards once again this year, offering Christmas greetings to our clients. We are even more pleased to have been able to make a donation, to Poppy Scotland – Supporting our Heroes, a charity which provides support to ensure Scotland’s ex-Servicemen and women receive the best care and support possible.”

For more information please visit their website, where you can even plant your own virtual poppy for our nation’s heroes: www.poppyscotland.org.uk.

Photo (ltr): Ian Gillies, Senior Partner at Graham + Sibbald, Robert McRae, Scottish Poppy Appeal  Organiser.

20/12/2011GS Residential Review for December 2011

The market in December is very much as we expected, with reduced activity levels, indeed very much reduced numbers of new vendors taking their property to the market, however this is very typical of a normal December. I await with interest the New Year, as whilst I do not expect a sudden rush of new vendors, I would expect to see people starting to come out of the Festive period with thoughts of selling, and would anticipate a slight upturn during end of January into February and March 2012, when compared to the last 3 months.
Craig Henderson, Partner, Glasgow office

Approaching the end of 2011, as expected the residential market has cooled somewhat with the number of properties coming to the market in the last month greatly reduced.  This however has allowed existing stock to become more exposed and as a result we have noticed an increase in the number of Replacement Home Reports being instructed, indicating these have now sold.  Agents are also advising levels of enquiries remain reasonable with an increase in the number of people enquiring about going on the market in the New Year.  Let’s hope for milder weather over the coming weeks to maintain interest and increased activity in 2012.
Darroch Robertson, Associate, Aberdeen

20/12/2011Glen Eagles Ryder cup 'key views' saved by Graham + Sibbald

Graham + Sibbald’s Planning Team, acting for a local group – SEAG – was successful in persuading a Scottish Government Reporter to reject the Standingfaulds wind farm proposal.

The proposal would have seen the erection of 8 turbines,  each over 100m high near Muthil, which would have been clearly visible in some of the key, iconic “high camera” panoramic views of the Ryder Cup course at the event scheduled for broadcast throughout the World in 2014.

Ian Kelly, Head of Planning at Graham + Sibbald, stated that this was a model wind farm objection project, with the local client group – SEAG – commissioning a full assessment at the earliest possible stage, leading to submissions and presentations to Perth and Kinross Council, followed by submissions to the appeal process.

This early engagement meant that the local group and the Gleneagles Hotel were able to co-operate fully and present a united front at the appeal in support of the refusal of planning permission by the Council. The appeal result, issued on 15th December, reinforced the clear planning policy position that wind farms should only be approved for appropriate sites.

Ian also stated that being able to work alongside the Gleneagles Hotel team raised the overall seriousness of the issues involved.   

Bill Thomson, Chair of SEAG, commented that they were delighted with the quality of advice from Graham + Sibbald and with the way that they organised the whole project team including landscape sub-consultants Mark Steele. He continued that, after two years of stress and worry for the local objectors, the result was everything that they could have hoped for. We would not hesitate to recommend the Graham + Sibbald’s Planning Team.

19/12/2011Graham + Sibbald sell Georgian town house

Acting on behalf of the Freight Transport Association, Graham + Sibbald, Stirling Office have sold the impressive ‘B’ Listed Georgian Town House at 3 Melville Terrace, on the fringe of Stirling City Centre.

The building had been the Regional Office for the Freight Transport Association for the past 20 years.  They have now relocated their Regional Office to Pavilion 1, Castlecraig Business Park, a modern office suite.

Liz Hollands, Fleet & Facilities Manager for Freight Transport Association, commented: “3 Melville Terrace has been purchased by a private individual whose intention is to convert it into a single dwelling.  The Freight Transport Association now occupies modern premises more suited to an office function but still within Stirling, which has historically proved an important location from which to serve our members.”

Andrew Peel of Graham + Sibbald`s Stirling Office, was pleased to say: “A good level of interest was shown in this prominent Georgian building, with its many attractive original features and close proximity to Stirling City Centre proving of particular interest to all parties who made enquiries.