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rettie & co. magazine
autumn | winter collection 2018
Borders
Sunlaws
Ardgowan House
£445,000
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This detached family home offers bright and spacious, free-flowing accommodation over two levels located on a generous plot overlooking the Roxburghe Championship Golf Course. A particularly handsome, contemporary, detached home within an exclusive development a short drive from the historic town of Kelso. Adjacent to the property is an integral double garage. Set within a large, fully enclosed and secluded garden, this versatile property has double glazing throughout and features attractive wood flooring in the reception areas. The home is comprised of a large entrance hall, generous dining room perfect for entertaining, a study with garden view, a kitchen diner with breakfast room, a utility room, a large master bedroom with spacious fitted wardrobe and en-suite bathroom with jack-and-jill sinks, three further bedrooms, and a family bathroom.
3
5
2
EPC=C
kitchen
dining
reception
garden
bedroom 2
bathroom
01896 824074
donald.young@rettie.co.uk
website link
SALES Borders |
01
/06
Gattonside
Boston House
Dating from the late 19th century, Boston House is named after Thomas Boston, one of Gattonsides many “worthies”, whose family had a long connection with the village. The home offers well-proportioned accommodation over two floors and double glazing throughout. The ground floor is composed of two large reception rooms both with stoves, a dining room, a kitchen with a fridge/freezer and Range cooker, a utility room, and a sunroom leading out into the back garden. Upstairs, there are four bedrooms, a WC which is conveniently placed to serve the spare bedroom, a family bathroom with a jacuzzi bath, and a laundry room. Externally, the private back garden is primarily laid to lawn and benefits from raised beds, mature trees and shrubs, a decked area with a hot tub, two garden sheds and an outbuilding serviced with electricity. There is also a gated gravel area serving the property with off-street parking suitable for one vehicle. The front garden benefits from being low maintenance and features a small gravestone to “Jockey”, Thomas Boston’s pet hare.
4
EPC=E
bedroom 1
entryway
tony.perriam@rettie.co.uk
02
01896 824072
Bowden
Cheviot View & Cheviot View Cottage
£485,000
A spacious family home as well as a separate cottage in the quiet village of Bowden, at the foot of the Eildon Hills, and just a short drive from Melrose. The property offers bright, south facing accommodation with stunning, unspoilt views over the surrounding countryside and to the Cheviot Hills. The ground floor provides access to the annexe accommodation, with a generous living room with open fireplace and mezzanine level, as well as a shower room. Elsewhere on the ground floor is a double bedroom, a study which could serve as a fifth bedroom, and a utility room/wc. Upstairs there are three double bedrooms, all with built in storage and wash hand basins, and a family bathroom. Just to the north of the main house, Cheviot View Cottage offers well-presented accommodation over two floors, with a double bedroom, living room with multi-fuel stove, shower room and kitchen on the ground floor, and two coombed bedrooms upstairs. The cottage is ideally suited for an elderly relative, grown up child or, as currently, to provide a letting income.
EPC=D (for Cheviot View) EPC=F (for Cheviot View Cottage)
reception 1
reception 2
reception 3
view
03
Midshiels
Doric Cottage
£475,000
Doric Cottage is a converted stone-built steading of approximately 3,020 sq ft and is beautifully finished with high attention to detail throughout. Entrance to the house is through a timber door to the porch. The heart of Doric Cottage is the spectacular L shaped reception hall with a family area and open plan kitchen with vaulted ceiling. There is a well equipped kitchen, utility room, guest wing with ample storage in the bedrooms, sitting room with multi fuel wood burning stove, master bedroom with en-suite, two further double bedrooms, and a spacious bathroom. The minstrel gallery, which overlooks the open plan kitchen area, is currently used as a second sitting room and completes the accommodation of Doric Cottage. The property benefits from high performance Scandinavian “Rationel” double-glazed windows (except the arches which are double glazed timber windows) and underfloor heating throughout. The property is accessed by a shared driveway and surrounded by low maintenance lawn areas. To the rear of the property is an elevated timber deck to make the most of the evening sun.
kitchen 2
mezzanine
patio
04
Selkirk
Forleys Park
£310,000
Constructed in the mid-1970s, Forleys Park offers well-presented and free-flowing family accommodation over one level. The bungalow is composed of an entrance vestibule, entrance hall, generous sized living room with a newly fitted gas fire place, a large conservatory with double doors out onto a patio, a dining room with a hatch through to the kitchen, a breakfasting, a utility room with a sink and a WC. Completing the accommodation are four double bedrooms each benefitting from built-in wardrobes and a family shower room with a steam shower cabin. Externally, the beautifully landscaped garden surrounds the property on three sides with mature and colourful beds, a greenhouse, a garden shed and stunning views out towards the hills beyond. The property also benefits from a large driveway offering ample off-street parking as well as a single garage.
1
conservatory
05
Eskdalemuir
Watcarrick
£585,000
Watcarrick is a unique and versatile package set in picturesque Borders countryside. Occupying over five acres in all, this would suit a range of purposes including use as a smallholding, holiday letting, or other business ventures. Watcarrick Farmhouse occupies a south-east facing position and offers extensive accommodation over two floors, with the additional bonus of a generous attic room. The kitchen has an ESSE range cooker (solid fuel) and a large larder off the back hall. The spacious dining/sitting room enjoys wonderful views to the east and has a Clearview multi-fuel stove; the snug also has a multi-fuel stove. The principal bedroom boasts an en-suite bathroom and there are four further bedrooms, which are served by a family bathroom. The cellar provides useful storage and is accessed from the ground floor hall. The interconnecting annexe benefits from its own front door and offers an open plan kitchen/living room with large patio window and door opening onto a veranda with stunning views, bedroom and bathroom, as well as an attic room. The annexe is currently let on a Short Assured Tenancy. Watcarrick Farmhouse occupies its own mature grounds including garden, grazing and amenity woodland. Stables Cottage has a multi-fuel stove with wrap around boiler that provides hot water, central heating and space heating to the cottage. The accommodation comprises a sitting room, kitchen, two bedrooms, and bathroom. Outside is a pretty garden with seating area and mature woods. Linked to the property is a car port and extensive steading with large barns, which could be well suited as a workshop, storage, or to provide additional accommodation, pending appropriate permissions. A short distance from stables cottage is an attractive timber studio with kitchen.
EPC=F (for Farmhouse) EPC=F (for Stables Cottage)
RECEPTION
WORKSHOP
EXTERIOR 1
EXTERIOR 2
AERIAL
06
Ettrick View
Bleachfield Road, Selkirk, Scottish Borders
featured property
Standing proudly on the brow of a hill overlooking the Ettrick Valley towards the Linglie Hills, Ettrick View is a commanding and magnificent stone built Victorian home. Inviting and exuding a serene confidence from the outside, the home is comfortably spacious and characterful inside. The beautiful views out to the Linglie Hills are enjoyed from every front-facing room—a constant reminder of Ettrick View’s fantastic location.
The current homeowners adore sitting in the lounge with logs roaring the fire and relaxing to the exquisite views of Ettrick Valley from the large bay window. Equally, they relish time spent with family and friends in the spacious kitchen looking out past the apple tree towards the animals grazing on the Linglie Hills. They also count the entertaining space within the gardens and summer house as another of their favourite corners of Ettrick View.
Ettrick View is enviably situated in close proximity to the centre of historic Selkirk, local amenities including hotels, pubs, coffee shops, and restaurants, and convenient to local primary and high schools
0141 341 6000
jamie.osbourne@rettie.co.uk
maitland.walker@rettie.co.uk
Ettrick View is available now in pristine, move-in condition.
Ettrick View is enviably situated in close proximity to the centre of historic Selkirk, local amenities including hotels, pubs, coffee shops, and restaurants, and convenient to local primary and high schools. Selkirk boasts excellent leisure facilities including a nine-hole golf course, tennis courts, horse riding, swimming pools, and a fitness centre. There are a variety of outdoor pursuits in the area not limited to fishing on the River Tweed, golf, hillwalking, and horse riding. There is a monthly farmer’s market and further shopping is easily reached in the nearby town of Galashiels. Selkirk is centrally located to other major Border towns as well as Edinburgh and northern England via motorway or the Borders Railway from Galashiels station.
A stately Victorian home, over the years Ettrick View had been the abode of a wine merchant, a banker, and a director of one of Selkirk’s textile mills. Graced with good sized rooms, a double garage, ample parking, and proximity to local schools and amenities, the home has also retained most of the original features. The home has personality but is also chameleon-like in its ability to provide a platform to make the space unique to each owner. A few internal renovations have been made by the current owners, who originally found the home in good condition with dated décor. They replaced a modern fireplace in the lounge with a beautiful one sourced locally and that is in keeping with the style and age of the house. In the snug—which may have served originally as the kitchen—the chimney was opened up to install a unique wood fire surround and gas living flame fire. All the doors were dipped and stripped, resulting in feature doors throughout the home. There were two larger projects that expanded the homes footprint and usable space. Firstly, an unused attic space was converted into a floored, lined, and insulated space easily accessible by a Ramsay ladder. Then the small and disjointed kitchen was transformed into a large and bright hub of the home. A large extension with a lantern roof and new picture windows was built and the kitchen fitted with sturdy cabinetry, plentiful worktops, a centrepiece AGA, and a large dining table.
Serene outdoor vistas are not confined merely to the interior of Etrrick View but unfurl from the front door across a groomed private garden with plentiful seating areas surrounding the home, making it possible to catch the sun at various points throughout the day. A lovely beech hedge runs the length of the front garden, parallel to the original iron railings, that offers both privacy and enhances the elegance of the property. Ettrick View’s current owners made enhancement of the gardens a focus so that the unspoilt vista surrounding the property would be in synergy with the gardens. They removed a dog run and kennels at the back of the home and replaced it with a patio area outside the kitchen replete with stone-dyke retaining walls. These retaining walls double as lush landscaped areas filled with shrubs and herbaceous plants. Over the years they have also added decking and additional paved areas for sitting and relaxing amid the tranquil environs. Most recently, a hexagonal summer house was added with further opportunities to savour the views to the nearby hills.
Eyemouth
8 Barefoots Park
£275,000
8 Barefoots Park is an impressive three to four bedroom detached family home in immaculate condition, located in a sought after and established residential area in the popular harbour town of Eyemouth. The property offers stunning sea views from the balcony, bright and well-proportioned accommodation throughout, and benefits from a large integral garage. The property has a low maintenance landscaped garden and is within walking distance of local amenities and services.
2-3
3-4
EPC=D
01289305158
amy.brown@rettie.co.uk
SALES Berwick |
/07
St Abbs
Che Sera Sera
Che Sera Sera is an impressive two bedroomed detached bungalow situated in a peaceful location in the sought after coastal village of St Abbs and occupying a private position. The property has been tastefully refurbished, offers bright and well-proportioned accommodation and benefits from private off street parking, a detached garage and well maintained garden grounds.
DINING
GARDEN
VIEW
Swinton
Corbie Lea
£230,000
Corbie Lea is a delightful double fronted, stone-built village house offering generous and well-proportioned accommodation throughout and by virtue of its southerly position, benefits from a light and bright atmosphere. This beautifully presented period property has been lovingly upgraded and renovated by the current owners and the accommodation successfully combines traditional style with modern comforts, stylishly decorated with elegant and neutral décor throughout. To the rear of the property is a most impressive, large and mature garden with a sun room/studio.
EPC=F
BEDROOM
CONSERVATORY
Lamberton
Glen More House
£675,000
Guide Price
Glen More House is a most substantial 4695 square foot modern family home situated about four miles north of Berwick upon Tweed. The property is offered in excellent condition throughout and offers stunning coastal views, five bedrooms, a separate two-bedroom annexe, generous garden grounds, and an adjacent five acre field. This property offers great potential for those seeking to generate an income by for example offering bed and breakfast accommodation and/or using the annex as a holiday let.
5-7
5-6
PATIO
Teindhillgreen, Duns
Kirkwell House
£410,000
Kirkwell is a statuesque property set within beautiful garden grounds of about 0.5 acres. Built in 1880, Kirkwell is a B-Listed family home of architectural merit and was the former Rectory for Christchurch. The property is a wonderful family home, in good order throughout and still retains many historical and period features such as ornate cornicing and plaster work, grand panelled internal doors, and decorative architraves. Situated in the heart of the Berwickshire countryside, in the popular town of Duns, the property offers manageable family accommodation over two principle floors.
hallway
garden 1
Duns
Maryfield
£650,000
Maryfield is a large stonebuilt B-Listed Georgian home built in 1798 and set within its own private and secure garden grounds. Situated in the heart of the Berwickshire countryside, in the popular town of Duns, the property offers manageable family accommodation over 2 principle floors, particularly stunning garden grounds of about 1.5 acres, and benefits from a large garden/basement level which could easily be converted into additional accommodation. The property still retains many historical and period features such as ornate cornicing and plaster work, grand panelled internal doors, decorative architraves and fanlights, fireplaces and working shutters.
patrick.paton@rettie.co.uk
Ayton
Springbank
£325,000
Springbank is an impressive three storey stone built detached family home which has recently been renovated to a high standard. The property is set within its own garden ground within the pretty Berwickshire village of Ayton, close to the A1 for commuting and within eight miles of Berwick upon Tweed’s main line railway station.
garden 2
07
At Home with Ferguson Planning
Ferguson Planning are an independent planning consultancy in the Scottish Borders who are galvanised by the desire to deliver planning applications and appeals for clients and bringing each project to fruition. The company takes pride in acting for a variety of clients that range from individuals undertaking the building of their dream family home in the Borders countryside to advising some of the largest estate owners in the UK on their planning and development needs. While Ferguson Planning has a diverse portfolio of development projects situated throughout the UK, there is a strong and defined focus on the Scottish Borders.
After fifteen years of practice in Edinburgh, Tim Ferguson relocated to Melrose and established Ferguson Planning in Galashiels in 2012. Fully integrated into the community, Ferguson Planning is attuned to new developments and regional changes. Currently, the company is enthusiastic about the opportunity created by the Borders Railway and the subsequent planning for housing needs of various scales and types. Tim notes that “there has never been a better time to take the plunge into self-build or for businesses to review and bring forward housing opportunities on their land assets. As the number of users on the Borders Railway increases year on year and extension plans to Carlisle gather speed, the time is now right for developers to consider and benefit from this major infrastructure investment.” There are plentiful development opportunities in the Borders. The Scottish Borders Local Development Plan (LDP) is currently under full reviews, rendering it an ideal time to come forward with housing opportunities and seek land allocations within the forthcoming LDP. The last investigation in the current LDP was extremely interesting as it identified the need for greater housing numbers and delivery on the ground. This theme continues to resonate in the 2018 examination of the Strategic Development Plan (SESplan) which covers the southeast of Scotland, including the Borders. Particularly notable for rural landowners or individuals seeking to self-build is the LDP Policy HD2, relating to housing in the countryside. This policy states that when there is an existing rural building group of three or more houses closely related to your potential site, there is an allowance for up to 30% increase in the group—or an additional 2 dwellings, whichever is the greater. Thus, timing is of the essence as it can become a ‘first past the post’ scenario once the new LDP is adapted.
For those considering land purchases or developments for a larger group of houses—anything between five and one thousand dwellings—timing remains vital. Ferguson Planning often work with large landowners to formulate the best planning strategy and manage the proposal through the often complex process. The Council have already begun the next draft of the local plan. Those landholdings along the Borders Railway Line, and even those with land near the extension route, may have strong potential. Ferguson Planning have seen strong market interest from housebuilders across a range of scales in the Borders market towns of Melrose, Peebles/the Tweed Valley, Kelso, Stow, and Lauder. Ferguson Planning assisted with securing planning consent for one such project. The redevelopment of Caerlee Mill, Innerleithen and many additional opportunities of similar ilk exist right across the Borders, be it for residential purposes or for popular ventures like whisky and gin distilling.
Growth in the Borders tourism sector continues to gather momentum and is another facet in which Ferguson Planning has been delighted to participate. Their work has ranged from securing planning consent for new bike trails at Glentress to the delivery of new, high-end holiday cottages on farms and estates. Planning in Scotland continues to be firmly in the spotlight and with a new planning act going through Parliament, this is unlikely to change any time soon. The bulk of proposals are focused on stronger housing and infrastructure delivery that provide optimism for the future. Ferguson Planning’s submission to the Scottish Government can be found on their twitter page @fergplan. Ferguson Planning is proud to play a visible part in its local Borders community through sponsorship of events and local teams including Melrose and Kelso Rugby clubs, and sponsoring of local charities like Stable Life in Selkirk. The Fergusson Planning team is often out at local sporting events and participates in the Kelso Races with clients. On the equine theme, Fergusson Planning assisted racehorse trainer Katie Scott in achieving a house in rural Selkirkshire which then enable the receipt of her full training licence. The company takes great satisfaction in seeing local companies like this excel in the Borders.
Ferguson Planning
Shiel House 54 Island Street Galashiels, TD1 1NU www.fergusonplanning.co.uk tim@fergusonplanning.co.uk Follow on Twitter: @fergplan
For a free initial consultation contact 07960 003358
Melrose
Birdsfield
£1,650 PCM
Now let
An impressive detached modern house situated in peaceful location on the edge of the pretty market town of Melrose. Local amenities are in walking distance. Easy commute to Edinburgh via A68 and the train. The Tweedbank station is approx. 15 min walk. The well-presented accommodation is comprised of a hall, drawing room with double doors out to garden, study/bedroom five, main bedroom with dressing room and en suite shower, three further double bedrooms, family bathroom with walk-in shower, large eat-in kitchen, utility room, and a downstairs shower room. There is also a double garage, a garden, and oil fired central heating. Pets allowed with landlord consent.
kitchen 1
exterior
01316224160
chloe.riva@rettie.co.uk
Lettings |
/02
Teac Failte
£600 PCM
Now Let
An exceptional recently renovated one bedroom flat in the heart of Melrose. This property comprises of hallway, large sitting room, eat in kitchen, double bedroom with built in wardrobes. Bathroom with shower.
bedroom
Market insight
Overall stability in the Borders market
The Scottish Borders’ housing market often behaves like the more reserved cousin of its flashier urban relatives, preferring a reliable Subaru estate over a Chelsea tractor, the farm shop to hipster street food van, and modest market trends to speculative swings.
This reserved character has nonetheless masked a rise in average house prices in the Scottish Borders: in the first half of 2018 prices were 2.8% higher than the same period last year, only marginally behind that of Glasgow at 3.1% over the same timeframe. Although this increase trails the 5.2% rise seen in Edinburgh, it was still strongly ahead of Perth and Kinross, a traditionally popular market with similar housing stock but where average prices have actually fallen 4.2% in the past year. Although historically lying slightly beyond the comfortable commuter range of many Edinburgh families, the region’s accessibility has been transformed since 2015 by the re-opening of the Borders Railway to Tweedbank. Inevitably, there has been a “ripple effect” on demand and prices, especially in the north of the region and close to transport nodes. The Borders’ market has not seen the same level of demand spilling out from the capital and into the local housing market as the Lothians. West Lothian and Midlothian have both experienced double-digit average house price growth in the past year resulting from extensive new build development, which see new home sales now accounting for over 50% of sales in some towns.
However, while there may not have been the same level of increase for the Borders as with its urban brethren, the level of activity has been less volatile. In Edinburgh transaction levels have fallen 16.1% year-on-year in mid-2018 due to affordability and stock availability issues. During the same period, the Borders market has been much more robust in terms of transactional volume, with essentially no change. This compares highly favourably to a 6.8% fall nationally in sales, suggesting significant resilience. Thus, while the Scottish Borders has not had the same highs (in prices), nor have they had the same lows (of volume).
From our office in Melrose, we have noticed this trend being most concentrated in clients looking for high quality and traditional properties across the region. These properties are in short supply and many would-be buyers are having to exercise patience in their search for their ideal country home in the Borders.
Dr John Boyle, Director, Research & Strategy Andrew Meehan, Associate Director, Research & Strategy
Nonetheless, despite this overall stability the region has experienced some of the same trends being witnessed elsewhere in Scotland. Over the past couple of years there has been a positive upturn in house sales in the £325k to £750k Land and Building Transaction Tax (LBTT) bracket, a bracket which had been hibernating due to high transaction costs. In the first half of 2017 and 2018 there were over 100 sales in this bracket compared just over 60 in the first half of 2016, a whopping 66% rise. At the same time as sales in this price bracket blossomed, sales under £325k have waned, down 7% this year. This trend of higher value recovery and weakening mass market activity is common across the country, as families and downsizers look to move after delaying in the wake of LBTT’s introduction in 2015. From our office in Melrose, we have noticed this trend being most concentrated in clients looking for high quality and traditional properties across the region. These properties are in short supply and many would-be buyers are having to exercise patience in their search for their ideal country home in the Borders. For sellers with this type of property, the current market may offer an opportunity to move while demand is rekindled and supply remains low.
Down on the Border, the market in and around Berwick-Upon-Tweed has been mixed with house price and activity down on year-on-year on the English side, whereas north of the border the market has been more complicated with LBTT changing buying patterns. While sales activity is down around -3% across TD11 and TD14, sales between £200k and £500k are notably up. This includes more transactions in the £300k to £500k price bracket. This resurgence of high value transaction reflects the 2018 trends in Scotland and is not replicated south of the Border. The tax divide and financial implications of LBTT continues to influence the thought processes and buying patterns of the clients who visit our Berwick-Upon-Tweed office. Overall, whilst the Borders market may lack the pace of its bustling urban counterparts, this is partly because buyers and sellers in the Borders recognise the value and scarcity of the homes they own or are looking to buy. These homes are often unique and once sold will be unlikely to return to the market for many years. With such different values driving the markets, to compare the Scottish Borders market to flats in Edinburgh or new build developments in the commuter hinterland is much like comparing a Wedgwood table setting to an Ikea Home starter pack.
with Patrick Paton
Q&A
I have been with the company for about three years. My family are from Berwick upon Tweed and I have close ties to the area. My office operates both sides of the Border, giving us a unique insight into the market. My position within the office is to ensure we remain the leading agent in the Berwickshire and north Northumberland areas.
Our office is centred around high levels of communication, first rate market knowledge and strong branding. We have a service promise to our clients which means they get a phone call every 10 days/two weeks and a marketing meeting every 6 weeks. This allows our clients to make informed, proactive decisions about their sales campaign with our help.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and what you do at Rettie & Co.?
Working with people who are at the top of their game, not just within my office but within the firm. The company is forward thinking in their approach to marketing and customer service, which makes the journey for clients a much more pleasurable experience.
What do you find most enjoyable and rewarding within your role at Rettie?
In short, the area offers fantastic value for money, a wonderful lifestyle, and excellent transport links north and south. We have some of the most beautiful landscapes and coastline found in the UK on our doorstep. This, combined with the mainline east coast rail service network, makes transport and communication links easy and effective.
What attracts people to buy in the North Northumberland/Berwickshire?
Our buyers come from all over. We sell a lot of property in North Northumberland to buyers from Newcastle/Durham/North Yorkshire as transport links are excellent and very convenient. Berwickshire and the Borders sells to a variety of buyers. Berwickshire is always popular with parties from England, and we also have considerable interest from overseas buyers who are either returning home or basing themselves in a part of the world that can easily access Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Where do your buyers come from?
The buyer profile of the Berwickshire/North Northumberland market means that three and four-bedroom bungalows sell very well. That said, all property that is well presented will achieve a quick and efficient sale in today’s market.
What kind of properties are you finding sell well in North Northumberland/Berwickshire?
Our office is centred around high levels of communication, first rate market knowledge and strong branding. We have a service promise to our clients which means they get a phone call every ten days/two weeks and a marketing meeting every six weeks. This allows our clients to make informed, proactive decisions about their sales campaign with our help.
Tell us a little about the Rettie experience