Real Estate Finance

A £20m redevelopment and refurbishment project by Knight Property Group (KPG) sets the standard for sustainable office redevelopment in Edinburgh Park.

Supporting targets for more sustainable property 

Lochside Avenue is a development in Edinburgh that features a host of sustainability enhancements. These include EPC ‘B+’ rating, all electric air-conditioning delivered via air source head pump technology, electric car charging points and intelligent LED lighting on all floors. With workforce wellbeing in mind, it offers a safe and secure, Covid-friendly, sustainable environment featuring 60 bike spaces with maintenance facilities.

The development has achieved UK Green Building Council 2025-2030 interim targets for operational energy use and was used as an exhibit for COP26 delegates to showcase the latest techniques being used to re-purpose a large 1990s office building into a leading building for the future.

What we do

With the support of Royal Bank of Scotland, KPG acquired the Lochside Avenue building, and instead of demolishing it, remodelled, redeveloped, and refurbished it in a ‘RetroFirst’ approach to providing fossil fuel-free, and zero direct emissions office accommodation, aligned to net zero targets and the Scottish Government’s ‘New Build Heat Standard’.

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Scania UK opened its new state-of-the-art depot at Eurocentral in Scotland, a site developed with leading-edge sustainability features that replace an existing site at Bellshill.

Supporting decarbonisation ambitions

Serving as the company’s new Scottish headquarters, the fully decarbonised site, incorporating air source heat pumps, solar PV, underfloor heating, and water harvesting, is the most energy efficient of Scania's 1,600 strong global property portfolio underlining the company's continued commitment to achieving net zero.

The 43,000 sq. ft facilities, situated on a 7.8-acre site at Eurocentral, Motherwell, were purchased by West Ranga Property Group (WRPG) following the agreement of a pre-let. 

The site also maintains and charges Scania’s range of new plug-In hybrid and full battery electric trucks. The previous workshop at Bellshill closed with all employees moving to the new location. 

What we do

The provision of development funding was via a £6,740,000 loan facility from Royal Bank of Scotland. WRPG’s director Jamie Parratt says: “By providing the development funding to support delivery of the project, Royal Bank of Scotland has again demonstrated support for our development aims of significantly reducing the carbon emissions and climate impact of this asset.”

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A new build development project by Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) sees the creation of 300 energy efficient and sustainable social rented properties across the Western Isles.

Supporting community wellbeing for a more sustainable future

Operating across the rural Western Isles, HHP manages around 2,300 affordable homes for social rent. Its mission is ‘Making our House your Home’, and its strategy involves investing in tenants’ homes in a sustainable way and contributing positively to the wellbeing of communities throughout the Outer Hebrides.

What we do

The project was supported by a £25m loan facility from Royal Bank of Scotland, which also funded the replacement of ineffective, costly, and carbon-emitting heating systems in many of HHP’s homes with air source heat pumps and other low carbon alternative solutions. It also addressed fuel poverty for tenants.

Chair of HHP Gordon Macleod, says: “Royal Bank of Scotland’s loan facility represents a major milestone for us and puts us in a strong position to deliver new homes and continue to invest in our housing stock, as well as upgrade existing properties to deliver energy efficient, affordable homes for our tenants.”

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