There is nothing sadder than seeing a derelict or vacant high street. However, this time it isn’t retail spaces which are attracting negative attention, but the number of empty homes.
Despite what many people are now calling a housing crisis, new data has found that Scotland has a high proportion of residential homes standing empty.
Property lender Together has done its homework and I find the results surprising. It turns out that there are more than 93,000 homes across the country currently abandoned.
It’s sad walking past closed stores, abandoned homes and empty units – it portrays our communities in a negative light. What’s worse is that more than half of us are encountering unloved buildings every week.
When you put a number to it, you realise the scale of the problem. £18.5 billion worth of residential homes stand empty across the country, and this volume has increased over the last three years.
These stats make it clear: housing needs to be high on the government’s agenda. But there’s no quick fix.
Post-pandemic, the focus was understandably on vacant office buildings. With flexible working becoming the norm, many businesses offloaded expensive leases. But now, as many return to offices, it’s not just residential but commercial and civic buildings that remain abandoned.
Together’s research found that 77 per cent of people regularly pass by former workplaces lying empty.
So, as the Scottish Government looks to address the housing shortage and rise in vacant properties, it needs to look at residential and commercial real estate together. Are they up to the task though?
Take the example of Paisley, where 180 new homes were recently refused. Despite receiving planning permission in principle back in 2019, Renfrewshire Council planners have now recommended rejection – even though housing need is far greater now than it was five years ago.
The development, proposed by AS Homes, was to be part of a wider £40 million regeneration of Ferguslie Park, with council-owned housing a likely outcome. This decision flies in the face of common sense.
We’re seeing this elsewhere too – residential and business developments being blocked by poor policymaking and political interference, not least from Green opposition to development of almost any kind.
Yet there is huge potential for private investors to help restore and repurpose many of these abandoned buildings, breathing life into towns currently in decline.
There are real community benefits here too – new homes, business units, and civic spaces that attract residents, entrepreneurs and visitors back into areas otherwise left as ghost towns.
But without proactive support from government and local councils, nothing will change. We need joined-up thinking – or we’ll be reading even bigger numbers next year about Scotland’s abandoned properties.
End of an era as Livingston FC parts ways with Tony Macaroni
In a twist for footy club Livingston FC, the news of losing their iconic Tony Macaroni Stadium sponsorship marks the end of an era.
From cheesy chants to the quirky name adorning their home ground, the partnership with Tony Macaroni has been a staple of Livingston’s identity for years.
While it’s natural for sponsorships to evolve, the departure of Tony Macaroni will undoubtedly leave a void.
The stadium’s name has become synonymous with the club’s spirit and character, adding a touch of whimsy to the footballing landscape.
But now the club has a chance to redefine its identity and forge new commercial partnerships that reflect its ambitions.
In football, sponsorships are essential. While this is a blow, it’s also a new opportunity.
With a pinch of creativity and a sprinkle of optimism, they’ll no doubt penne another memorable chapter, whatever the new stadium name may be.
It Made Me Laugh
From Wonka flop to viral success
In a sweet twist, one of the infamous Oompa-Loompa actors from Glasgow’s viral Willy Wonka Experience is now spreading cheer by offering personalised Cameo messages to punters.
Actress Kirsty Paterson, who went viral as the ‘sad-looking Wonka helper,’ has donned her costume again, this time for a new gig.
She’s offering fans the chance to get up close and personal with custom videos for birthdays, celebrations and everything in between.
While the event may have been a public relations disaster, Kirsty’s turning the tables – and cashing in on her viral fame.
With fans cheering her on and even a horror movie based on the debacle in the works, it seems like Kirsty’s got the golden ticket after all!
It Made Me Weep
Bank branches vanish from Scotland’s high streets
It’s a bleak reality that over the past decade, 42 per cent of Scotland’s bank branches have closed.
But this isn’t just a loss of buildings – it’s a disconnect from communities and a blow to local economies.
Small businesses, especially, are hit hardest. Without local branches, access to capital, advice, and even basic services becomes much harder.
In a digital age, we mustn’t forget the need for in-person banking, especially in regions where local trade is the lifeblood of the economy.
The loss of a branch is about more than banking – it’s about keeping towns connected and resilient.
