| July, 2008 :: Queen Officially Opens Katrine Water Project |
The £120 million pound Katrine Water Project, designed to improve the drinking water quality for 700,000 people in the Greater Glasgow area, is Scotland's largest engineering works for the water industry and was officially opened by the Queen on 3rd July 2008.
The use of Loch Katrine to supply drinking water to Glasgow dates back to Victorian times and has served Glasgow well for nearly 150 years. In fact the original scheme was officially opened by Queen Victoria in 1859. In recent times however more stringent regulations regarding water drinking quality has resulted in a need for the upgrading of the treatment of Loch Katrine Water for drinking.
Davidson & Robertson Rural was brought in at an early stage of the project to act as lead land agent and valuation consultant. We were involved in land searches to identify the land use, land owners and occupiers of the various option sites. Once the preferred option was identified a detailed valuation exercise was undertaken and negotiations commenced with land owners for the acquisition of approximately 35 acres on the edge of prosperous Milngavie. Negotiated settlements were successfully reached with all the landowners without recourse to Compulsory Purchase. In addition wayleaves were negotiated and agreed for over 12km of large diameter mains and associated pipework.
Construction started in 2004 with the main elements being a new, 240,000 mega litres/day direct filtration plant and the provision of an additional 160,000 mega litres treated water storage capacity. The additional storage capacity is provided by two 80,000 mega litre tanks, the biggest ever constructed in Scotland. The works were commissioned in October 2007.
The original 26 mile aqueduct linking Loch Katrine with the water treatment works at Milngavie was considered a feat of Victorian engineering. The new scheme is every bit as impressive.
Further information is available here.
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| July, 2008 :: Energy Performance Certificates are coming.. |
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From 1 December 2008 an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be required for the sale of existing domestic buildings in Scotland.
From 4 January 2009 they will be required for all domestic and non-domestic buildings if leased or sold and must be displayed in all public buildings.
These certificates are similar to the ratings already displayed on electrical white goods and motor cars. Of some comfort to Rural Businesses is that buildings which do not use fuel or power for controlling the temperature of the internal environment will be exempt from the requirement.
For further details please contact Niall Milner.
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| May, 2008 :: NEW ENTRANTS PAPER PRESENTED TO CABINET SECRETARY |
| The Tenant Farming Forum (TFF) has launched its paper of recommendations on how to assist new entrants into Scottish farming.
The TFF is made up of NFU Scotland, Scottish Tenant Farmers Association (STFA), Scottish Estates Business Group (SEBG), Scottish Rural Property and Business Association (SRPBA), Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Scotland and Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC) and its primary purpose is to help to promote a healthy farm tenanted sector in Scotland.
The recommendations focus on those solutions, which in the view of the TFF, will have the greatest potential to provide new entrants access to capital, have equality of opportunity, and enable access to land. Suggested recommendations include; ensuring that new entrants have access to the Single Farm Payment, subsidised interest loans, improving succession planning advice and creating phased entry programmes.
Details are available at:
www.tenantfarmingforum.org.uk |
| October, 2007 :: Read All About It! |
The latest company newsletter is available for download from the link on the front of our homepage. Enjoy and let us know what you think. |
| October, 2007 :: Landlords Take Note - The Repairing Standard |
From 3rd September as part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006, the Repairing Standard sees a modification and extension of the landlord’s obligations to repair and maintain a property. The Repairing Standard requires that landlords ensure that the house is wind and water tight, the structure and exterior or the house is sound including drains and gutters, the installations such as water, gas and electricity are in reasonable repair and working order and that smoke alarms are provided to a satisfactory level. The landlord has to ensure that the house meets the Repairing Standard at the start and throughout the tenancy. It also applies to existing tenancies as well as those beginning after 3rd September. If you are affected by the Repairing Standard and have any queries, please contact Charles Reid Thomas or Niall Milner. |
| June, 2007 :: WAVERLEY RAILWAY PROJECT |
Davidson & Robertson Rural have been appointed by Scottish Borders Council to manage the properties acquired for the high profile Waverley Railway Project. Martin Hall comments - 'we are delighted to have been selected to assist with this exciting project, and this appointment fits well with our strong Estate Management and Infrastructure Services'. |
| May, 2007 :: Edinburgh Drinking Water Project |
Davidson & Robertson Rural have been instructed by Scottish Water in connection with site acquisition and compensation on the prestigious Edinburgh Drinking Water Project. Scottish Water is making a major investment in the public water supply in Edinburgh over the next four years. This £100 million investment will mean better quality drinking water and will equip the city for future expansion. For further information click here. |
| January, 2007 :: New Lanark Office |
| Davidson & Robertson Rural are pleased to announce expansion with the opening of a new office in Lanark. The office, located within Lanark Agricultural Centre, opened on 8th January 2007. The office will be run on a day to day basis by Niall Milner and managed by Director Martin Hall. The office is opening as a result of a growing number of clients in the Lanarkshire and Borders area. Please call in and see us when you are at the Market. Contact details for the office are as follows:- Davidson & Robertson Rural Lanark Agricultural Centre Muirglen Hyndford Road Lanark ML11 9AX T: 01555 66 66 55 E: lanark@davidsonandrobertson.co.uk |
| January, 2007 :: Promotion |
We are delighted to announce the promotion of Niall Milner to position of Associate Director within the firm. Niall has been with the firm since 2001, and qualified as a Rural Chartered Surveyor in 2003. He has been instrumental in the setting up the Lanark office. Niall is presently Chairman of RICS matrics in SE Scotland and is a Careers Champion for the RICS. 
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| August, 2006 :: Recent Recruitment |
| We are pleased to welcome Charlotte Holdsworth as a new member of the Davidson & Robertson Rural team. Charlotte joins us from Harper Adams University College and begins her formal RICS training programme with the firm. |
| August, 2006 :: Upper Forth Crossing |
| Work has recently started on the Upper Forth Crossing (the new Kincardine Bridge). Davidson & Robertson Rural are representing the interests of several affected owners and occupiers in relation to the whole Compulsory Purchase process. For further details contact Martin Hall. |
| June, 2006 :: Airdrie to Bathgate Railway |
| The objection period for the "Airdrie Bathgate and Linked Improvements Bill" closes on the 31st July 2006. Davidson & Robertson Rural have been appointed by a large number of landowners to represent their interests in any discussions or negotiations with the scheme promoters. If you have any questions or would like further information please contact Niall Milner or Martin Hall. |
| June, 2006 :: Commemorating the passing of |
On 1st June Davidson & Robertson Rural celebrated 50 years since the death of one its founding partners - "WM" Robertson - who died whilst golfing at Gleneagles in 1956. Staff of the firm were joined by a number of older colleagues who either worked with,or knew WM all those years ago.  |
| April, 2006 :: Time is running out! |
Landlords have until 30th April to register with their Local Authority as a fit and proper person for the purpose of letting Residential Property. After the 30th April it will be illegal to let property if you are not already registered. This includes arrangements where a rent is not exchanged such as tied housing or grace and favour occupation. If you have any questions, or a struggling with the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact Niall Milner. |
| January, 2006 :: Empty Properties - Help May Be At Hand! |
The Rural Empty Properties Grant scheme(REPG) is run by Communities Scotland. Its main aim is to increase the amount of affordable rural property on the market by helping to fund development projects. It focuses mainly on residential properties that are in an uninhabited condition, or non-residential properties in need of conversion. However, it will also consider houses that are inhabited, but below the tolerable standard. There are also various other criteria that the grant provider will consider when an application is made. The maximum amount of grant money available for any project is 33% of the project cost, however this may be increased in special circumstances. The grant policy stipulates that the property in question must be rented out as affordable housing for a period of no less than 5 years. The grant provider will either be Communities Scotland or the local authority, depending on the area in question. After the five year period of renting the property as a affordable housing, the owner has the freedom to either continue renting the property as affordable housing or expose it to the open market. For further information please contact Merle Robertson at: merlerobertson@davidsonandrobertson.co.uk |
| November, 2005 :: Well Done |
Well done to Sarah Rennie & Peter Gayford who both passed the RICS APC (Assesment of Professional Competence) in November to become qualified "MRICS." Martin Hall comments, "We are delighted that both candidates passed. We recruit one or two candidates each year who are put onto our structured training programme. The high level of support we provide pays dividends and this can be seen in our 100% pass rate since the APC was introduced 15 years ago, with all passing on first sitting! |
| October, 2005 :: Wind Farm Visit |
A group of 10 surveyors from the Riccarton Office visited Blacklaw Windfarm in Lanarkshire recently. Charles Reid Thomas, who was involved in setting up the agreement for the landowners, gave an insight into the complexity of any agreement. AMEC and Scottish Power talked through the practical aspects of constructing and managing the site. At capacity the site will generate 140 MW of electricity
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| October, 2005 :: Work Experience Week |
Davidson & Robertson Rural were happy to host three school pupils for work experience last week under the RICS Scotland initiative encouraging school leavers to consider a career as a Rural Chartered Surveyor.
Click here for more info |
| September, 2005 :: Planning Gain Supplement |
| The 2004 Barker Report on Housing Supply recommended that the government should impose a Planning Gain Supplement (PGS) to allow the extraction of a proportion of the value gained through the granting of planning consent for housing development for use in the funding of essential infrastructure. Since then the Government has made it clear that they are considering the imposition of a PGS type levy on all gains arising from the granting of planning permission and have indicated that there will be a consultation in the Autumn As agents acting for a large number of landowners in the central belt we are concerned at the potential "double whammy" of any gain being subject to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and having to pay in addition the PGS. If you have any queries regarding ths PGS please contact Martin Hall. |
| August, 2005 :: New Appointments |
| Davidson & Robertson Rural are pleased to announce the appointment of two further professional staff working from Edinburgh. Peter Gayford joins the team after previously working for Smiths Gore in Dumfries, predominantly in Estate Management. Merle Robertson has just graduated from Aberdeen University with a degree in Rural Surveying from the department of Land Economy. Martin Hall comments, "These appointments back up our commitment to grow our core Rural Surveying business through recruitment of the best in the industry" |
| July, 2005 :: 2005 Agricultural Show Calendar |
Davidson & Robertson Rural continue to support a number of local agricultural shows, as we have done for a number of years, and we would be delighted to see you at any or all of the shows which we are attending this year. For your information these are the shows at which we will have a stand where you can come for in informal chat, a large glass of Pimms and / or shelter as circumstances dictate!
DOUNE & DUNBLANE SHOW - Saturday 2nd July 2005
DALKEITH SHOW - Saturday 9th July 2005
BIGGAR SHOW - Saturday 23rd July 2005
PEEBLES SHOW - Saturday 14th August 2005
YARROW SHOW - Saturday 10th September 2005
We look forward to seeing you there. |
| May, 2005 :: Draft Finalised West Lothian Local Plan 2005 Place |
The six week consultation has just begun on the Finalised West Lothian Local Plan. Landowners in West Lothian should familiarise yourselves with the content so far, as it may affect you. We are assisting a large number of landowners with development opportunities. If you wish to discuss how we might be able to help you please contact Martin Hall or Andrew Miller. |
| May, 2005 :: 16th May Deadline Looms |
Those with farming businesses must make sure that they meet the 16th May deadline for submission of their 2005 IACS Field Data Sheets and Single Application Form (SAF). Failure to do so could mean the loss of valuable Single Farm Payment Scheme entitlements. If you need assistance please contact Martin Hall. |
| May, 2005 :: Kilpunt Steading Launched on the Market |
Davidson & Robertson Rural are pleased to reveal that Kilpunt Steading near Broxburn is for sale. The Steading has featured in the Scotsman Property Supplement and is an excellent opportunity for Developers. Please see the Property section of the web page for further information. |
| May, 2005 :: New Website |
| Davidson & Robertson Rural are pleased to announce the launch of our updated Website. Feel free to have a look around and let us know what you think. |
