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New holiday home tax proposed to protect Gaelic language
New holiday home tax proposed to protect Gaelic language

The National

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • The National

New holiday home tax proposed to protect Gaelic language

Increased taxes for holiday homes and Airbnb-style short term lets have been put forward by the Scottish Greens as a way of tackling the housing crisis in Gaelic communities, as well as supporting young people who wish to stay in the areas they have grown up in. Ross Greer, the party's finance spokesperson intends to force a vote on the proposed taxes when Holyrood considers amendments to the Housing Bill this autumn. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar urged to break silence on Labour's 'nuclear tax' for Scots The amendments would allow ministers to apply a 'special' surcharge on those purchasing holiday homes or other additional properties in areas with high levels of Gaelic speakers, including Skye and the Outer Hebrides. Commenting, Greer said: 'Gaelic is an essential part of Scottish culture and national identity, but it is on the verge of extinction as a living language. 'We need to take bold action immediately, or the decline will be impossible to reverse. The Languages Act is a good starting point, but we know that one of the biggest threats to the language is the housing crisis in areas like Skye.' His proposals follow the passing of the Scottish Languages Bill, which allows for communities where Gaelic is widely spoken to be designated as 'areas of linguistic significance'. Additional charges on holiday home purchases would apply in areas with this designation, including Skye, where average house prices are around £60,000 higher than the national average. A local councillor reportedly estimated that almost 60% of properties in the area were either holiday homes or short term lets, forcing young people off the island and putting the survival of Gaelic as a community language at risk. A lack of affordable housing is often cited as one of the main factors in Gaelic being on the verge of extinction in historical Scottish communities. 'Young Gaelic speakers are being forced out of the last communities where it is still the spoken language because holiday homes and Airbnb-style short term lets have driven up house prices to levels they cannot hope to compete with', Greer continued. READ MORE: Consultation launched on new Jeremy Corbyn party 'As a result, they are forced to move to areas where they cannot use Gaelic in their everyday interactions. This is one of the biggest threats to Gaelic's continued existence. 'My proposals would make it harder for wealthier people to buy up second homes and short-term lets in Gaelic-speaking communities and in turn make it easier for locals, especially first-time buyers, to secure their own home." Greer added: 'Changes to council tax already delivered by Scottish Green MSPs reduced the number of second and holiday homes across Scotland by 2500 last year, freeing up more properties for people who need a home to live in. 'We can build on this success with further targeted actions and ensure that our Gaelic-speaking communities can thrive rather than be treated purely as holiday parks for tourists and the super-rich.'

Greens propose holiday home taxes to protect Gaelic language
Greens propose holiday home taxes to protect Gaelic language

The National

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • The National

Greens propose holiday home taxes to protect Gaelic language

Increased taxes for holiday homes and Airbnb-style short term lets have been designed to tackle the housing crisis in Gaelic communities, as well as supporting young people who wish to stay in the areas they have grown up in. Ross Greer, the finance spokesperson for the party, intends to force a vote on the proposed taxes when Holyrood considers amendments to the Housing Bill this autumn. READ MORE: Anas Sarwar urged to break silence on Labour's 'nuclear tax' for Scots The amendments would allow ministers to apply a 'special' surcharge on those purchasing holiday homes or other additional properties in areas with high levels of Gaelic speakers, including Skye and the Outer Hebrides. Greer said: 'Gaelic is an essential part of Scottish culture and national identity, but it is on the verge of extinction as a living language. 'We need to take bold action immediately, or the decline will be impossible to reverse. The Languages Act is a good starting point, but we know that one of the biggest threats to the language is the housing crisis in areas like Skye.' His proposals follow the passing of the Scottish Languages Bill, which allows for communities where Gaelic is widely spoken to be designated as 'areas of linguistic significance'. Additional charges on holiday home purchases would apply in areas with this designation, including Skye, where average house prices are around £60,000 higher than the national average. A local councillor reportedly estimated that almost 60% of properties in the area were either holiday homes or short term lets, forcing young people off the island and putting the survival of Gaelic as a community language at risk. A lack of affordable housing is often cited as one of the main factors in Gaelic being on the verge of extinction in historical Scottish communities. 'Young Gaelic speakers are being forced out of the last communities where it is still the spoken language because holiday homes and Airbnb-style short term lets have driven up house prices to levels they cannot hope to compete with', Greer continued. READ MORE: Consultation launched on new Jeremy Corbyn party 'As a result, they are forced to move to areas where they cannot use Gaelic in their everyday interactions. This is one of the biggest threats to Gaelic's continued existence. 'My proposals would make it harder for wealthier people to buy up second homes and short-term lets in Gaelic-speaking communities and in turn make it easier for locals, especially first-time buyers, to secure their own home. 'Changes to council tax already delivered by Scottish Green MSPs reduced the number of second and holiday homes across Scotland by 2,500 last year, freeing up more properties for people who need a home to live in. 'We can build on this success with further targeted actions and ensure that our Gaelic-speaking communities can thrive rather than be treated purely as holiday parks for tourists and the super-rich.'

Lone Design Club launches 'Airbnb of pop-up retail'
Lone Design Club launches 'Airbnb of pop-up retail'

Fashion Network

time18-07-2025

  • Business
  • Fashion Network

Lone Design Club launches 'Airbnb of pop-up retail'

Known for its inventive ways of providing fledgling or digital centric businesses with a first taste of physical retail, Lone Design Club has now launched Revolving Spaces, a tech-driven, Airbnb-style letting platform that 'simplifies and scales short-term retail'. Now in its sixth year and with over 110 curated pop-ups and 10,000+ brand activations under its belt, LDC said the new 'landlord-first tech platform' is built to 'unlock the hidden potential of underutilised commercial space from vacant units and rooftops to foyers and media zones'. It's a purpose-built SaaS platform that automates lead generation, leasing, onboarding, payments, and brand engagement through a central, landlord-branded portal."What once took hours of manual outreach is now streamlined through a tech-powered, white-label system', LDC said. Noting that one in three brands are now using pop-ups in a market on track to hit £80 billion by 2028, Revolving Spaces 'opens doors for brands to activate high street spaces faster, smarter, and on their own terms'. It's quick to point out that this 'isn't another listing marketplace… Revolving Spaces is a fully branded, automated lead generation and commercialisation engine designed to help landlords activate assets hands-free, while giving brands seamless access to prime real estate'. Built out of Lone Design Club's own need (it was running up to five pop-ups a month with 80+ brands), Revolving Spaces 'cuts operational effort by 80% and boosts booking speed by 50%', it claims. Integrated messaging, automated bookings, and CRM functionality "simplify brand interactions', while real-time performance analytics offer insights into sales, footfall, and engagement. The result is a claimed 30% revenue uplift in Year 1, 50% faster vacancy turnaround, and 45% less admin burden. Hammerson, Ingka Centres (IKEA) and others have so far adopted the scheme. The platform was initially piloted by commercial property giant Landsec at its St David's Cardiff shopping centre under the leadership of then-head of Asset Management Nicholas Porter, who has since joined Lone Design Club as Strategic Advisor. He said: 'Revolving Spaces enhances landlords' operational efficiency, enabling them to attract a diverse mix of brands creating a dynamic 'revolving door' of relevant, rent-paying tenants that often exceed ERV. Managed via the platform, this boosts income, supports valuation growth, and supplies landlords with valuable R&D insights that pinpoint the next high-growth brands and unlocks further opportunities for store openings, pop-ups, brand activations, and media spend. Rebecca Morter, CEO & founder of Lone Design Club, added: 'Landlords today need smarter ways to unlock revenue without adding pressure to stretched teams. Built from the ground up by operators, it automates the messy, manual work of short-term leasing and connects landlords directly with a pipeline of 10,000+ ready-to-go brands. We're not just simplifying the process we're changing the model. This is about future-proofing portfolios, filling space faster, and reshaping how retail and real estate work together.'

Lone Design Club launches 'Airbnb of pop-up retail'
Lone Design Club launches 'Airbnb of pop-up retail'

Fashion Network

time18-07-2025

  • Business
  • Fashion Network

Lone Design Club launches 'Airbnb of pop-up retail'

Known for its inventive ways of providing fledgling or digital centric businesses with a first taste of physical retail, Lone Design Club has now launched Revolving Spaces, a tech-driven, Airbnb-style letting platform that 'simplifies and scales short-term retail'. Now in its sixth year and with over 110 curated pop-ups and 10,000+ brand activations under its belt, LDC said the new 'landlord-first tech platform' is built to 'unlock the hidden potential of underutilised commercial space from vacant units and rooftops to foyers and media zones'. It's a purpose-built SaaS platform that automates lead generation, leasing, onboarding, payments, and brand engagement through a central, landlord-branded portal."What once took hours of manual outreach is now streamlined through a tech-powered, white-label system', LDC said. Noting that one in three brands are now using pop-ups in a market on track to hit £80 billion by 2028, Revolving Spaces 'opens doors for brands to activate high street spaces faster, smarter, and on their own terms'. It's quick to point out that this 'isn't another listing marketplace… Revolving Spaces is a fully branded, automated lead generation and commercialisation engine designed to help landlords activate assets hands-free, while giving brands seamless access to prime real estate'. Built out of Lone Design Club's own need (it was running up to five pop-ups a month with 80+ brands), Revolving Spaces 'cuts operational effort by 80% and boosts booking speed by 50%', it claims. Integrated messaging, automated bookings, and CRM functionality "simplify brand interactions', while real-time performance analytics offer insights into sales, footfall, and engagement. The result is a claimed 30% revenue uplift in Year 1, 50% faster vacancy turnaround, and 45% less admin burden. Hammerson, Ingka Centres (IKEA) and others have so far adopted the scheme. The platform was initially piloted by commercial property giant Landsec at its St David's Cardiff shopping centre under the leadership of then-head of Asset Management Nicholas Porter, who has since joined Lone Design Club as Strategic Advisor. He said: 'Revolving Spaces enhances landlords' operational efficiency, enabling them to attract a diverse mix of brands creating a dynamic 'revolving door' of relevant, rent-paying tenants that often exceed ERV. Managed via the platform, this boosts income, supports valuation growth, and supplies landlords with valuable R&D insights that pinpoint the next high-growth brands and unlocks further opportunities for store openings, pop-ups, brand activations, and media spend. Rebecca Morter, CEO & founder of Lone Design Club, added: 'Landlords today need smarter ways to unlock revenue without adding pressure to stretched teams. Built from the ground up by operators, it automates the messy, manual work of short-term leasing and connects landlords directly with a pipeline of 10,000+ ready-to-go brands. We're not just simplifying the process we're changing the model. This is about future-proofing portfolios, filling space faster, and reshaping how retail and real estate work together.'

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