Latest news with #VADundee
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
First-time buyer demand in cities soars - with one trendy Scottish city seeing a HUGE spike
First-time buyers have been flocking to cities over the last decade, new data shows. Across Britain's 50 largest cities, demand among first-time buyers has risen by 16 per cent since 2015, Rightmove said. This was at the expense of coastal towns, where the number of people looking to get on the property ladder flatlined thanks to soaring prices and poor connections. However, Dundee in Scotland, a city with a coastal outlook, managed to buck the latter trend and saw the biggest spike in demand from first-time buyers in the last decade. Rightmove's analysis compared demand from first-time buyers between January to May 2025 against the same period in 2015. Its figures suggest first-time buyer demand in Dundee surged by 176 per cent in the last decade. Dundee is Scotland's fourth largest city, and has been undergoing a rejuvenation in recent years thanks in part to its thriving arts, design and food scenes. It is home to the University of Dundee, the Law conservation site, the V&A Dundee and attractions like Broughty Castle. The city has various shopping centres and a myriad of restaurants and pubs. Kyle Anderson, managing director of McIntyre Properties in Dundee, told This is Money: 'This is a trend we have seen in recent years, given the level of investment and development in the city it has become a desirable place to live in many areas, but also remains relatively affordable compared to the rest of the country. 'There are different types of first time buyers as in any location, but many opt for the West End, as there are many traditional flats in this area which are close to the city centre. Others may go for some of the readily available former local authority houses a little further from the city centre as they are well-sized for couples, small families at a very affordable price point.' While Dundee took the top spot for first-time buyer growth, Edinburgh saw the second largest rise in demand in the period, climbing 91 per cent. Doncaster came in third place, with a 74 per cent increase in demand from first-time purchasers. Liverpool and Plymouth took fourth and fifth place, with demand from first-time buyers rising over 70 per cent in both cities. Glasgow, Preston, Winchester, Newcastle upon Tyne and Newport also performed strongly. Only London failed to follow the city trend. Overall first-time buyer demand in London fell 7 per cent versus ten years ago, with higher asking prices a likely contributor., Rightmove said. While most cities proved popular, on average, the number of future first-time buyers looking to move to popular coastal areas was 'completely flat' compared with ten years ago. For many first-time buyers, proximity to work and public transport is key, as is affordability. Colleen Babcock, Rightmove's property expert, said: 'We've seen a number of changes to the property market over the last ten years. 'Perhaps most notably is during the pandemic, when many people temporarily left cities and looked to the coast or countryside.' She added: 'Comparing where we are now versus a decade ago, it looks like there's even more appeal from potential first-time buyers to live in cities, though the data does show that it can vary quite widely from city to city, and it will also depend how first-time buyer friendly a particular location is in terms of the type of homes that are available for sale. 'Coastal areas haven't seen the same level of growth as cities from this type of buyer, and again it may be partly due to the availability of suitable homes in these areas for first-time buyers as well as affordability.' Mary Lou-Press, president of NAEA Propertymark, said: 'Coastal locations can offer a slower and more picturesque quality of life, compared to the vibrant fast-paced atmosphere of many cities. 'The latter can be appealing for younger people due to greater economic opportunities, cultural attractions, and diverse amenities. 'It's likely we will continue to see a shift in first time buyer activity within city centres as London remains increasingly desirable yet unaffordable for many people stepping onto the property ladder for the first time. 'This is likely pushing many to enter more affordable cities and it's unsurprising that Scottish cities are placed firmly at the top, as these can offer a blend of career opportunities, landmarks, and access to green spaces, all at a lower cost than many other major UK cities.' Four homes for sale in popular cities 1. Two-bed house, Dundee, offers over £150,000 This two-bedroom semi-detached house in Dundee is on sale via Remax Real Estate Centre for offers over £150,000. The property is being sold with extension plans which have already been approved by the local council. The property is spacious and light throughout and has a handy attic space accessed via stairs. The house has a large back garden with a decking area. 2. Two-bed flat, Edinburgh, offers over £200,000 This two-bedroom flat in Edinburgh is on sale via Yopa for offers over £200,000. The third-floor flat is in a traditional tenement building with a secure entry system. The freehold flat spans 622 and is in an excellent location close to the city centre, making it ideal for first-time buyers. 3. Two-bed house, Liverpool, offers around £159,150 This well-presented two-bedroom semi-detached house in Liverpool is on sale via Purplebricks for £159,150. The house would suit first-time purchasers or those with a growing family. The immaculate property spans around 792 sq. ft. and has a spacious front-facing living room. The ground floor also has a conservatory and utility room. The property has paved low-maintenance gardens at both the front and back. This is a house which has been well-loved and looked after by its owner. No stress: The Liverpool house has a low-maintenance garden to the rear and front 4. Two-bed house, Doncaster, offers in region of £155,000 This two-bedroom semi-detached house in Doncaster is on sale via Whitegates for offers in the region of £155,000. The house, spanning around 807 sq ft, is located in a popular residential area and benefits from off-street parking. The property has a spacious living room, modern kitchen and a generous garden perfect for relaxing or entertaining in. Ready to go: The kitchen in the Doncaster property is pristine and ready to use Restful: The property in Doncaster spans more than 800 sq ft How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
The Independent
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Exhibition of Palestinian dress and embroidery to open at V&A Dundee
An exhibition of Palestinian dress and embroidery is set to open at V&A Dundee, as the city marks 45 years since it was twinned with Nablus in the West Bank. Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine brings together more than 30 historical dresses, alongside veils, head-dresses, jewellery, accessories and archival photographs. The exhibition explores the ways tatreez – an ancient practice of elaborate hand-embroidery – has shaped and expressed Palestinian national identity since the late 19th century and evolved into a form of resistance and solidarity. It also showcases the regional variations in dressmaking and embroidery across Palestine, with the cut, colour, textiles, stitches and motifs on Palestinian women's dress being both a highly skilled craft and a language which reveals who the wearer is and where they are from. Leonie Bell, director of V&A Dundee, said: 'Thread Memory: Embroidery From Palestine is an exhibition that through research, collections and partnership explores the traditions and material culture of Palestinian dress and the vast range of regional styles that tell important stories about the lives of the women who made, adapted and wore these dresses, jewellery, head-dresses and accessories. 'The exhibition also explores the 45-year-old connection between Dundee and Nablus, a twinning relationship that has brought these two cities together, and it celebrates contemporary Palestinian design and creativity from Dundee, Scotland and across the UK.' The exhibition includes 'spectacular' historical dresses from villages in Gaza – including one that was damaged in the bombing of the Rafah Museum in 2023. It also features the dress worn by Dundee councillor Nadia El-Nakla at the swearing-in ceremony of her husband, former first minister Humza Yousaf. Ms El-Nakla said she is 'delighted' to welcome the exhibition to V&A Dundee. 'Design and culture are peaceful and powerful forms of resistance and solidarity,' she said. 'Palestinian fashion and dress express ideas about who we have been, who we are and the lives we want to live in peace and with dignity. 'This exhibition is opening at a time of extreme pain and suffering. It's bringing design from Palestine to life and tells the stories of women's lives in Palestine. 'I am proud that my dress, or thobe, that I wore at the Scottish Parliament is there as an expression of my Scottish-Palestinian identity, and as a symbol of solidarity, hope and peace.' The exhibition was developed in partnership with the Palestinian Museum in Birzeit in the West Bank, drawing on local expertise and objects from Palestine, as well as with Art Jameel and the V&A.
South China Morning Post
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
How Scottish whisky brand The Dalmore redefines culture through art and design: its 3rd Luminary Series edition was unveiled at the 2025 Venice Biennale of Architecture, in partnership with V&A Dundee
There's plenty to say about what it means to be cultured in this day and age – one of the few words in our modern vernacular which invites some debate depending on who you ask. Perhaps what comes to mind is less a description and more a feeling not too far off from the first sip of a cool glass of aged and refined whisky – something which feels fresh and evocative, deeply personal and always thought-provoking. For the previously uninitiated such as myself, entry into the world of whisky came naturally thanks to the cultural touchstone that is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, where Scottish whisky brand The Dalmore unveiled the third edition of its Luminary Series last week in partnership with V&A Dundee – Scotland's very first design museum and the first prestigious Victoria & Albert museum outside London. The Dalmore unveiled the third edition of its Luminary Series in partnership with V&A Dundee. Photo: Handout Advertisement Marking a marriage between whisky-making and taste-making, these releases are available exclusively as limited-edition collectibles and one-off versions made for auction. They are presented as luxurious art pieces co-created by the design luminaries of our time. Previous collaborators include legendary Japanese architect Kengo Kuma , who designed the V&A Dundee, and protégé Maurizio Mucciola, along with Melodie Leung of Zaha Hadid Architects , whose portfolio includes Hong Kong's very own Henderson Building. And in keeping with tradition, The Luminary 2025 Edition, The Rare – both whisky and accompanying sculpture – will also be auctioned at Sotheby's, this time in Hong Kong, on Friday, May 16, with all proceeds going to V&A Dundee. The Dalmore event unveiling the third edition of its Luminary Series. Photo: Handout In these capable hands, it's easy to see how The Dalmore aims to cultivate a more cultured world, one drink at a time. In its over 180 years of making whisky in the Scottish highlands, the brand has sought to challenge the conventions of its craft and bring new meaning to that tricky term. While some may call cultured a state of being, others a state of mind, the curated, complex tastes involved in bringing The Dalmore's latest release to life say something else entirely – to be cultured is less a choice and more a mandate to push the boundaries of what we think to be possible in today's climate, to pursue thoughtfulness in everything we do. Ben Dobbin (right), with Maurizio Mucciola and Melodie Leung, The Dalmore's Luminary Series designers in previous years. Photo: Handout That's precisely what Ben Dobbin, this year's luminary designer, had in mind when conceiving and developing the latest chapter of The Dalmore's ambitious arts and design project. Dobbin built his sculpture using the principles of tensegrity, which essentially boils down to finding structure through tension – a delicate balance which applies to many other disciplines beyond architecture, including human anatomy, art history and now, whisky-making. Ben Dobbin's sculpture is built on the principle of tensegrity. Photo: Handout 'Taste and smell are really rooted in some of your earliest memories,' says Dobbin, who grew up around apples and whisky-infused desserts. Unsurprisingly, both played a huge role in formulating the 52-year-old single malt whisky that is the 2025 Edition of The Rare. It is the oldest of the brand's whiskies currently available for purchase and the oldest so far in the Luminary Series, which houses a blend of tastes and smells made possible only by its time spent maturing in exceptionally rare casks. The aroma of warm spices like vanilla and cinnamon, which have become The Dalmore's signature, opens up to deeper tasting notes of baked brioche, apricots and apples. The strictly limited-edition collectible version of the whisky, aged 17 years but no less refined in its palette, offers a hint at what this singular whisky has to offer for non-auction prices.
Times
12-05-2025
- General
- Times
Monty Don: A window box can be as joyful as a big garden
His two-acre plot in Herefordshire is one of the most beautiful gardens in England, but Monty Don insists there is just as much joy to be taken from a window box. Don, 69, said gardening, which has helped him to deal with both grief and depression, can be a huge source of pleasure, and urged people not to be put off just because they do not have a garden. Speaking to Kirsty Wark on the V&A Dundee podcast today, he said: 'I completely support that whole view of getting people to garden something, anything, anywhere, anyhow. 'When you have a window box, the pleasure that you can get from seeing something grow is just as great as seeing what I do in my garden outside
The National
12-05-2025
- General
- The National
Tiles from 17th-century Iranian palace to go on display in Scotland
Rare tiles from a 17th-century Iranian palace in Isfahan will go on display for the first time in a generation at a new exhibition at the V&A Dundee. The panel dates from the reign of Safavid ruler Shah Abbas II (1642-1666) and originally decorated the wall of his private hammam (bathhouse) within the now-demolished Haft Dast Palace in Isfahan, central Iran. The 4.5-metre wide tiles depict a garden paradise with fruit trees, flowering plants, and an ornate blue and yellow border. Among its details are pomegranates, flower species accurate down to their horticultural usage and climbing gourds that wrap around fruit-bearing trees. James Wylie, project curator at V&A Dundee where the items will go on display this month, explained the significance of this "masterpiece" of Safavid art. "This extraordinary tile panel from ancient Iran is a stunning embodiment of the garden as a symbol of power, paradise and cultural identity," he said. "We are thrilled to display it at V&A Dundee for the first time in over two decades, following its meticulous conservation by our colleagues at National Museums Scotland [NMS]. "Including this rare treasure in the exhibition expands the story well beyond contemporary design, offering a rare glimpse into the universal and enduring human impulse to shape nature into meaning. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to experience a masterpiece of Safavid art in a new light and to consider how gardens have always been spaces of imagination, beauty and political expression." The display follows conservation work of the tiles by NMS – which acquired the items in 1899 – to remove 100-year-old overpainting and reveal more of the original design. Conservators also reduced the weight of the supporting frame, making it possible to lend the item to another museum for the first time. Friederike Voigt, principal curator of west, south and south-east Asian collections at NMS, described the piece as the only one of its kind to show "a complete composition" of the garden motif. "Beautifully painted and rich in symbolism, it offers a tantalising glimpse into the splendour of the gardens at the Haft Dast Palace," she said. "Extensive conservation work has revealed it in its full glory and I'm delighted that it's going on display for the first time in a generation as part of this major exhibition." The panel will form part of the V&A Dundee's Garden Futures: Designing With Nature exhibition that opens on May 17. The exhibition is designed to take visitors on an "illuminating journey" through key moments of innovation in garden design from the 20th century to the present day, as well as offering a glimpse into the future.
