Mactaggart & Mickel Group seizes impetus in 2012 with flurry of central belt projects
Published by Anne Marie Hughes on Sat 09 Jun 12 @ 22:15
Williamwood.
The award winning family housebuilder Mactaggart & Mickel Group has announced a dynamic start to 2012 with four diverse projects: Williamwood, Dollar, Dalkeith and Lochrin. The range of developments, which are worth circa £45 million, are soon to be underway in the central belt of Scotland. The progress marks a continuum of the momentum the firm established in 2010/11 when it reported a 10% rise in pre-tax profits to £4.26 million last year.
On the west coast Mactaggart & Mickel Homes has announced that construction of 23 high quality homes in the prestigious south Glasgow suburb of Eastwood will start this month.
In December 2011 Mactaggart & Mickel Homes purchased the land from PricewaterhouseCoopers, administrators for insolvent builder Applecross, as well as the existing permission. The new development follows on from the company's previous work in Williamwood, when it was asked by PwC in 2009 to undertake the completion of the original Applecross blueprint to specification. Having successfully completed that plan to requirements, building now moves into a fresh phase which will further bolster the local housing stock and fulfil the local site plan.
The company has already received strong interest in the new homes, which will include five spaciously designed four bedroom townhouses characterised by bright hallways and flexible living spaces, and 18 high quality two and three bedroom apartments with open plan kitchen, dining and lounge areas.
Mactaggart & Mickel Homes will also return to Dollar with residential acquisition and building plan for 20 homes on a prime location. The company will submit a detailed plan to Clackmannanshire Council in the early summer and construction is likely to start on the homes in 2013.
Dollar is an extremely strong location in the Scottish market and has attracted consistent demand through the economic cycle. Proposals include a number of other localised improvements including an expanded sports pitch for Strathdevon Primary School.
In Edinburgh, Mactaggart & Mickel Group has secured permission for two regeneration projects in Dalkeith and Lochrin together worth £12.4 million (land and build contracts).
Most recently Mactaggart & Mickel Homes gained a planning approval in Dalkeith for a mixed use development that will play a key role in regenerating a derelict part of town in 2012. The 12 acre former Forrest Furnishing factory site at Salters Road is now set for a transformation with a phased development project to regenerate the site.
Initial plans have been approved by Midlothian Council and were the subject of community consultation. The first phase of the development consists of the provision of 101 residential units made up of 76 mainstream and 25 affordable homes. Potential designs include a variety of detached and semi-detached properties and a small number of apartments with work anticipated to begin towards the end of 2012 once consents are in place.
Edinburgh City Council has also approved a revised plan for Mactaggart & Mickel Contracts' proposed development in Lochrin, Fountainbridge which will deliver 87 one, two and three bedroom private apartments and 240 student units on a 1.9 acre site. 22 affordable units have already been built through our Contracts division and occupied as part of the existing consent. The site is located close to some of Edinburgh's leading academic institutions and benefits from excellent transport links and local amenities. It is expected that building with start late 2012.
Ed Monaghan, chief executive of Mactaggart & Mickel Group commented: "This raft of new developments demonstrates the complementary capabilities of our Group divisions - Homes, Contracts, Timber Systems, Strategic Land and Commercial Property - which have gone from strength to strength following our diversification in 2009. Mixed use developments are becoming increasingly prominent in our portfolio and Lochrin in particular marks a new venture for us in the construction of student accommodation, a market which has enjoyed increasing demand over the past few years.
"Location is also key to the success of our developments and we have a strong track record in securing land in the most desirable areas of Scotland and, more recently, south of the border through our English Strategic Land Division. We maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook and, despite market conditions remaining tough, believe there is still demand for quality properties built in the right locations."
For further information on Mactaggart & Mickel Group please visit www.macmic.co.uk
