Property News

With only 5.4 million people living in just over 80,000 sq km of land, it's perhaps little surprise that Scotland enjoys such an unparalleled reputation for space, fresh air and glorious countryside. What's more, a recent survey to find the UK's greenest urban areas put three Scottish cities at the head of the list. Conducted by First Mile, the waste and commercial recycling services provider, the survey rates Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow particularly highly thanks to their high per capita recycling rates, air quality, pollution levels, provision of electric vehicle charging points, and their reduced use of both single use plastics and disposable or "fast" fashion. South of the border, York was the top-performing city, whereas London did not even place in the top ten.

Another recent study, using data from local authorities across Great Britain, placed West Lothian and Clackmannanshire firmly towards the top of the green-living league table. They owe their places thanks to their high percentage of homes with a smart meter and their excellent rates of recycling.

Consequently, if eco issues are important to you, is Scotland somewhere you should consider living? (Spoiler: the answer is definitely yes, but do read on for more ideas on where to look and why.)

Aberdeen
If being at the forefront of developing technology appeals, Aberdeen could have what you're looking for. As well as its impressive placing in the First Mile survey, in 2018 building began on Aberdeen's first sustainable housing development. 25 new homes positioned in clusters of five are now under construction. Each cluster is designed to generate its own power (via biogas, wind and solar) as well as to have the ability to capture waste and recycle it for use as fertilisers and energy. Some scientists believe that waste-management schemes such as this have the potential to provide the UK with up to a fifth of its power needs.

Edinburgh
Co-operative and self-build housing initiatives are part of a Scottish national plan - and, currently, Edinburgh is at the forefront of such initiatives. Examples include the Craigmillar Eco Housing Co-operative, which aims to build ten affordable, sustainable and robust new homes that will also help to reduce residents' fuel poverty.

If you want to go truly off-grid, Scotland is home to a number of off-grid communities, where residents rely on green energy and are as self-sufficient as possible when it comes to their food and clothing needs. Here's a little about just two of them:

Scoraig, Wester Ross
Lying on the edge of Little Loch Broom, Scoraig is a crofting community without any road links to the outside world. A thriving community of more than 300 people in the mid-1800s, by the end of the Second World War, it looked as if Scoraig's population had dwindled past the point of recovery. Bypassed by both the road and the rail network, the community was inaccessible and its young people were looking to make their lives elsewhere. However, incomers in the 1960s and 70s brought with them new ideas about self-sufficiency and an enthusiasm for green living in an increasingly fast-paced modern world. Today, in 2019, although still disconnected from the road network, Scoraig is accessible by via private boats from the opposite side of the loch at Badluarach or via a 4 mile walk from Badrallach. The community, which includes a number of school-aged children, also now relies largely on green energy generated by wind turbines. Unsurprisingly, given the size of the community and the commitment to the place shown by its residents, properties rarely come up for sale. However, the community has its own website and it's always worth checking.

Balnakeil craft village, Sutherland
Located near Durness, on the north coast, Balnakeil craft village was an MOD nuclear attack early warning facility in the 1950s. The first residents moved in during the 1960s. In return for only nominal rents, they were expected to create homes from concrete shells with no utilities, as well as establish the business that formed the nucleus of today's craft village. Today's businesses include art galleries, glass workers and a chocolatier. Residents did not have the opportunity to buy their homes until the start of the 1980s. Today, properties occasionally come onto the open market, with sold property prices about average for the area. Would-be buyers may have to wait several years for the chance to buy a home in Balnakeil, although nearby Durness may offer more opportunities.

With more and more Scottish estate agents advertising eco properties for sale, your chance of finding the right home in the right area has never been higher. What's more, increasing demand for this type of home means that they are increasingly available at most property price points. However, what features should you be looking for to establish your potential new home's eco credentials?

-Energy-efficient hot water and heating systems. These might be powered in a variety of ways, including hydro and solar power or biomass. In some instances, any excess energy can be sold to the local grid, giving you an additional source of income.

-Double or triple glazing.

-Solar panels (yes, they have their uses even in Scotland).

-Land. For many of those looking for a greener home, land is an essential part of their plan. Of course, larger acreages are often reflected in sold property prices but, pick your area carefully, and you could bag yourself a spacious smallholding for less than the price of a city tenement flat.

Custom-builds
Finally, you may also wish to look out for opportunities to custom-build your own eco home, such as on the Rowallan Castle Estate near Kilmarnock in East Ayrshire. Custom-build differs from self-build in that the developers have pre-chosen building professionals to ensure your ideal new home moves as quickly as possible from an on-the-page plan to a bricks and mortar reality. Customers also have the choice between using one of the developer's existing home designs (with or without additional, customer-led "tweaks") and working with Rowallan's own architects to design a completely unique eco home. As well as the design and build service, Rowallan also offers a full mortgage service. Plots are being released in phases, and the developer's website lists those that are currently available.

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