bi3 Autumn/Winter 2020

AUTUMN/WINTER 2020 

INSIGHT 

bellingram.co.uk 

Forestry 

Woodland can pay 

off for farmers p6 

Land 

Management 

How to protect your 

finances and future p12 

Weighing up the pros 

and cons of Solar PV 

p18 

Agency 

Checking the 

temperature of 

property market p24 

Design 

Creating safe spaces in 

the workplace p26 

autumn summer ❘ winter bi2019 bi2020 1

welcome 

Your AMC agents for straightforward farm finance. 

A name you can trust, covering the whole of Scotland. 

Sarah Tyson 

James Petty 

Malcolm Taylor Catherine Lawson 

07710308614 

07974934301 07715609325 

07968259662 

Welcome 

If you had asked me to predict the major influences 

on business performance at the start of the year, a 

global pandemic would not have been on my list! 

Nonetheless, it has been a year of adaptation, 

innovation and creativity, and despite the 

challenging trading environment I believe Bell 

Ingram has risen to the occasion remarkably well. 

Covid-19 has taken out whole sectors of our economy but thankfully the rural 

sector has reasons for optimism, as you will find out in this 2020 Autumn/ 

Winter issue of Bell Ingram’s Insight Magazine. 

There’s an emphasis on how we lay firm foundations for a route towards a low 

carbon future and Forestry has been singled out by the Scottish Government 

as a key sector, with a raft of new grants available to encourage tree planting 

across the country. On page 6 we examine one small-scale woodland scheme 

with Bell Ingram Land Agent Matthew Imrie who has first-hand experience of 

developing such a project on his family’s farm near Glasgow. 

With increased demand on our electricity network during lockdown and 

with working from home becoming the ‘new normal’, our Utilities teams 

throughout the UK have been helping the energy industry protect its 

customers through extensive wayleave support at a time when network 

resilience is under pressure. 

Our renewable energy technical consultant Joe Fergusson gives his thoughts 

on the current state-of-play in the solar PV and battery storage markets, and 

on the feasibility of these technologies in light commercial situations on page 

18. 

Future proofing your business is always important, but especially in times of 

uncertainty. On page 13 Land Agent Associate Catherine Lawson underlines 

the importance of a coherent succession plan and why now, with rumoured 

changes to inheritance tax as the Government tries to balance the books post 

Covid, is the time to put this in place. 

Meanwhile, we step into the day in the life of a land agent, which is rather a lot 

more than you might think, with our Valuations Partner Sarah Tyson on page 10. 

It was a difficult start to the year for anyone working in the Estate Agency 

business with the industry just about grinding to a halt during lockdown. But 

this did not dampen the spirits of our property experts who raised the bar 

when it comes to thinking outside the box, managing to sell a house after one 

virtual viewing on an iPhone. Read more about our team’s success on page 24. 

If there is one area that is sure to be turned on its head post pandemic it 

is commercial office design, explored on page 28 by our Design Associate 

Murray Fleming. 

Finally, I would like to congratulate the raft of new promotions and 

appointments across our business. We recognise the hard work and dedication 

of all our staff, particularly at this time of uncertainty and change. 

Graham Lumby Chairman 

Editorial contacts for Insight 

l Alison Lowson, Marketing Manager alison.lowson@bellingram.co.uk 

Tel. 01738 621 121 or 07584 093354 

l Eleanor Mackay, Digital Marketing & PR Co-ordinator 

eleanor.mackay@bellingram.co.uk Tel. 01738 621 121 or 07758 960466 

l Design by Stuart Cameron design100cam@gmail.com 

l Additional photography by Perthshire Picture Agency & David Lozowy Photography 

*Insight magazine is prepared for general information only. While care is taken in its 

compilation, neither Bell Ingram LLP nor its employees or officers accept any liability for 

the contents or their application to any individual circumstances. Readers are strongly 

recommended to contact Bell Ingram to obtain advice appropriate to their needs. 

Contents 

6 Can money grow on trees? Expert 

advice is key to getting a small-scale 

woodland scheme off the ground. 

10 A day in the life of a Land Agent 

Variety is the spice of life for Valuations 

Partner Sarah Tyson. 

12 How to succeed at succession What 

happens when a failure to prepare leaves your 

family in the lurch? 

16 Expert Opinion Our Head of Land 

Management warns against chasing subsidies. 

17 Our rural land management 

experts Meet our experienced team. 

18 Weighing up the pros and cons 

of Solar PV Renewable energy technical 

consultant, Joe Fergusson, gives his thoughts 

on the current state-of-play. 

20 Inside the Penrith Resilience 

Project Ambleside-based Land Agent 

Andrew Thompson explores the challenges 

of determining the pipeline’s route through 

a unique landscape rich with historic, 

environmental and geographical features. 

21 Mapping out the benefits of GIS 

From disease outbreaks to natural disasters, 

geospatial data has an important role to play. 

22 Promotions and appointments We 

continue to strengthen our team across our 

10 UK offices. 

24 Thinking outside the box in tough 

times Meet our premium property experts. 

27 Fostering the next generation of 

rural decision makers Bell Ingram 

partners with Countryside Learning Scotland. 

28 How Covid is changing the way 

we design our offices We quiz our 

architects on the future of commercial design. 

31 Conservation in design The 

importance of traditional building skills and 

craftsmanship. 

34 Dreaming of your perfect home 

post lockdown? Bell Ingram’s Ecosse 

Living house range offers beautiful design 

with fixed costs. 

2 bi2019 summer summer bi2019 3 

2 bi2020 autumn ❘ winter autumn ❘ winter bi2020 3

news 

news 

The Great 

Food Guys 

Bell Ingram’s very own 

Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) 

Lamb Ambassador Michelle 

Stephen cooked up a storm 

on BBC Scotland’s The Great 

Food Guys programme 

recently. 

The Aberdeen-based Land 

Agent joined celebrity chef 

You’re kidding! Goats 

steal the spotlight 

I 

nstead of welcoming clients and 

contacts to our ringside marquee 

at the Royal Highland Show, Bell 

Ingram continued to support the rural 

community by taking a “virtual” stand at 

the first Scottish Agricultural Show run 

in conjunction with RHS by our friends 

at The Courier and Press & Journal 

newspapers. 

As well as sponsoring the Goat and 

Young Handlers’ Category, we used 

Nick Nairn, presenter, Dougie 

Vipond and the Farmer/ 

Comedian Jim Smith in the 

kitchen to prepare a rack of 

Scotch lamb with roast miso 

aubergine and sauce vierge. 

Michelle, who also runs 

a farm near Udny in 

Aberdeenshire, says: 

“There was something 

that Jim Smith said on 

the programme that really 

resonated with me – namely 

that when you taste lamb as 

delicious as this it makes it 

so worth getting up at three 

o’clock in the morning to go 

and lamb a ewe. 

“I think farmers are so proud 

to produce Scotch Lamb and 

when they get a nice bit of it, 

it does make it so worthwhile 

getting up in the middle of 

the night. Knowing that we 

have produced them and 

that they’ve lived high-quality 

lives is so satisfying. We’re 

audited by Quality Meat 

Scotland on the farm so we 

have high welfare standards 

and I’m so proud to be able 

to produce Scotch Lamb.” n 

You can follow Michelle on 

Instagram @Insta_glam 

our stand to showcase the work of two 

of Scotland’s most exciting farming 

businesses – Lunan Bay Farm in Angus 

and The Scottish Goat Meat Company in 

Banff. 

Partner Malcolm Taylor, who heads 

up Bell Ingram’s Land Management 

team, explains: “Getting the chance to 

sponsor the Goat and Young Handler’s 

Category gave us a unique opportunity 

to champion this healthy, high-quality 

Scottish meat and hopefully convince 

shoppers to ‘Give Goat a Go’! 

“Our collaboration with Neil and Jillian 

McEwan from Lunan Bay Farm and 

Victoria Gardiner and Adam Wright from 

The Scottish Goat Meat Company was 

particularly exciting and hopefully gave 

both producers a high profile platform 

to promote this delicious red meat to 

the wider public and explain why it’s 

becoming so popular with top chefs and 

discerning consumers. 

“Covid has accelerated the pace of 

digital change at a rate none of us 

could have predicted, and it’s exciting 

to watch Scotland’s agricultural sector 

adapt to new ways of working, living and 

learning. We were delighted to support 

the Scottish Agricultural Show which 

was a fun, imaginative and innovative 

way of uniting and showcasing the 

sector during these challenging 

times.” n 

in brief 

Virtual shake-up 

for Perth Show 

When Covid put the kibosh on the 

Perth Show, its Chairman and Bell 

Ingram Managing Partner Mark 

Mitchell refused to admit defeat and, 

for the first time in its 158-year history, 

the event went “virtual”. 

Instead of 

descending 

on the 

North Inch, 

members 

and 

exhibitors 

were invited 

to submit a video clip of up to two 

minutes of their livestock. Judging 

took place on August 1, with virtual 

rosettes and silverware awarded to 

the section winners. 

As in keeping with previous years, the 

winners of each section were then put 

forward to allow an overall champion 

to be judged and awarded. 

Mark says: “The idea behind the 

virtual show was to give people the 

opportunity to compete, albeit on 

a much less formal basis than in 

previous years. I think we succeeded 

in creating a fun event to lift spirits 

during a difficult time for the rural 

community and the feedback was 

that the virtual show was enjoyed by 

all those who took part.” n 

Bell Ingram’s 

calendar is back 

for 2021 

If you missed out last year, don’t worry: the 

2021 Bell Ingram calendar will be available 

free of charge from our 10 offices at the 

beginning of December. 

The highly anticipated calendar features 

12 stunning rural images taken by 

our talented staff. 

You can also request a copy by 

emailing our marketing team at 

marketing@bellingram. 

co.uk 

2 bi2019 winter winter bi2019 3 

4 bi2020 autumn ❘ winter autumn ❘ winter bi2020 5 

W 

ay back in January 

the only cloud on the 

horizon was Brexit 

and the impact it would have 

on both our business and those 

of our clients, and it was hard, 

if not impossible, to think that 

anything else would dominate 

the year ahead. 

Even then we had started to 

feel a negative impact on our 

tourism-based clients, who were 

seeing reduced overseas visitor 

numbers, and the prospect of a 

‘no deal’ Brexit did not bode well 

for our agricultural clients within 

the livestock sector with sheep 

in particular being highlighted 

to be at risk. 

In the background a virus had 

taken hold in a city in China we 

had never heard of. As Covid-19 

slowly got a grip on Italy and 

then the UK, we realised that 

not only was every business 

threatened but each and every 

one of us too. 

We were very lucky, firstly we 

have a robust IT system that 

allowed remote working for 

everyone, and secondly our 

client base was as protected as 

any sector could be from the 

worst that was to take place. 

Our farming and estate 

clients needed us as much as 

before, but our utility clients 

probably needed us even more 

and the support services we 

provide to the latter became 

more important than ever. For 

example, the demand on the 

electricity network increased 

substantially with millions 

of us being at home all day. 

This brought new challenges 

in network resilience and an 

increased demand for priority 

connections for government 

projects targeted at the fight 

against Covid-19. 

The support from the contract 

staff Bell Ingram provides to 

the utility sector proved itself 

to be extremely welcome 

and it was all hands on deck. 

While a lot of the strategic 

work in the electricity sector 

was put on hold, the emphasis 

moved towards different 

work streams with safety and 

network resilience being at 

the forefront. This all required 

Wayleave support services 

and it was work that we could 

easily adapt to in the short 

term while working in the 

background on postponed 

strategic projects for the 

future. 

Adaptability and 

robust IT systems 

allowed Bell Ingram 

to navigate the 

Covid-19 challenge 

By Mark Mitchell, Managing Partner 

Elsewhere, our historic 

investment in our IT paid 

dividends and we were 

able to vacate our offices 

overnight, ensuring that our 

service to clients was virtually 

uninterrupted. It is one thing to 

have “Contingency Plans”, but 

quite another to implement 

them, particularly when those 

plans only anticipated closing 

an individual office due to 

a foreseeable event such as 

fire or flood. We had at no 

point considered closing each 

and every office on the same 

day – but that is what we did, 

everything fell into place, and it 

worked seamlessly. 

owever we are 

adaptable and learn 

Hquickly. Since March not 

only have we become familiar 

with the furlough scheme, 

but the VAT payment deferral, 

Creative or Tourism Hardship 

Fund, Pivotal Enterprise 

Resilience Fund and Small 

Business Support Fund to name 

a few. Our teams have striven to 

service our clients throughout 

this period, giving them the 

best advice and just being at 

their side when needed. We 

have not only stood by our 

clients, but by their tenants, 

looking after them and steering 

them in the direction of support 

and assistance. During this time, 

we have also coped with the 

normal day-to-day activities 

that occur. We issued all grazing 

licences as normal, completed 

all the IACS forms, organised 

woodland felling, planting and 

maintenance, we have issued 

wayleaves, and negotiated 

servitudes. In short, we have 

kept all of the balls in the air, 

something I am very proud of. 

But while Covid-19 took 

central stage and we have all 

been watching, waiting and 

reacting to the next regulation 

or governmental guidance, 

Brexit has been simmering 

away in the background. 

The UK Government and EU 

negotiators have been locked 

in a tussle that will inevitably 

go down to the wire. So how is 

this going to impact our client 

base? In 2018 the EU accounted 

for about 60% of all UK food 

and drink exports, down from 

70% five years ago. In a ‘no 

deal’ world all trading with the 

EU would be subject to WTO 

rules, with tariffs applied and 

border checks put in place. The 

consequence will inevitably be 

delays and expense. 

In tandem, the Agriculture 

Bill has been working its way 

through the UK parliamentary 

process and is not without 

its controversy particularly in 

relation to the allegations of 

watering down of food and 

animal standards. Allowing 

the importation of lower grade 

goods from the US such as 

chlorine washed chicken and 

hormone fed beef don’t go 

down well with our indigenous 

agricultural system that has 

been built on quality and 

safety. 

Predicting the future is always 

a risky business, but I think it’s 

fair to say that there will be no 

“back to normal” after the dust 

settles from Covid and Brexit. 

For this reason, adaptation and 

innovation are more important 

than ever in the rural sector. n

forestry 

forestry 

Can money grow 

on trees? Expert advice 

is key to getting a small scale 

woodland scheme off the ground 

• Project: Small scale 

woodland creation 

• Where: Blairskaith Muir on 

Hillhead Farm near Glasgow 

• When: February 2019 - Present 

• Why: Maximise an 

unproductive farm asset 

• Services required: Forestry, 

Land Management, Planning 

F 

orestry has a key role to 

play in helping the rural 

economy recover from 

the impact of the Covid-19 

pandemic. 

That was the assertion from 

Scotland’s rural economy 

secretary Fergus Ewing when 

he announced a £1 million 

grant in July to encourage 

farmers and crofters to diversify 

into forestry production. 

The grant is the first to 

be made available under 

the £40m Agriculture 

Transformation Programme 

which was launched in 

February to support farming 

and help reduce greenhouse 

gas emissions. 

The money can be used to 

cover 90% of the cost of 

creating small-scale woodlands 

that will capture carbon and 

provide a source of income for 

farming businesses. 

This focus on carbon capture 

could be a game changer, with 

a fledgling trade in carbon 

credits potentially offering 

much quicker returns in a 

sector that has traditionally 

appealed to more longer-term 

investors. 

But just how easy is it to tap 

into the available grants and 

get a small-scale woodland 

scheme off the ground? Bell 

Ingram’s Matthew Imrie 

has first-hand experience of 

developing such a project on 

his family’s farm near Glasgow. 

He says: “The Scottish 

Government’s push to 

encourage farmers to plant 

more trees ticks a lot of boxes 

– socially, environmentally and 

economically. However, it’s not 

as simple as identifying a piece 

of land, planting some trees 

and watching the money roll 

in. It can be a complex process 

that requires expert advice at 

every stage to ensure success.” 

Matthew’s woodland journey 

began last year when the idea 

of developing a forestry scheme 

on unproductive land was first 

discussed with his farmer father 

John Imrie. 

Those plans moved one step 

closer when Scottish Forestry 

approved the Hillhead Forest 

planting application earlier this 

summer. 

This green light was the 

culmination of 18 months 

of work by Matthew and his 

colleague Gregor Dalziell, who 

overcame a number of hurdles 

to successfully progress the 

first phase of the project … not 

least the surprise discovery of 

a colony of protected Great 

Crested Newts in a pond on 

the site! 

Matthew explains the 

background: “While Dad was 

able to cultivate the majority 

of this new acreage and bring 

it into silage ground, the hill 

ground was moorland, and 

barely fenced. Rather than just 

leave it sitting we wanted to 

maximise our least productive 

asset in order to safeguard the 

future of the business.” 

owever, convincing 

any farmer to consider 

H‘alternative’ uses for their 

land is always a challenge. 

Matthew continues: “I 

think it’s fair to say that most 

farmers and landowners take 

a great deal of persuading to 

use their land for anything 

other than traditional farming 

purposes. There has to be a very 

good reason to diversify and 

that reason is almost always 

financial. First and foremost, 

they want to know it’s a solid 

investment and what level of 

outlay is required to bring in a 

good income. 

“From my experience of 

working as an assistant land 

agent at Bell Ingram, I knew 

that forestry offered good 

investment potential thanks 

to ongoing policy backing to 

meet Scottish Government 

targets of planting 36 million 

trees by 2030, and that a 

woodland creation scheme 

could provide the solution we 

needed at Blairskaith.” 

Phase one of the project kicked 

off in 2019 when the Imrie 

family asked Central Scotland 

Green Network (CSGN) to 

conduct an initial feasibility 

study on the targeted area 

which produced a potential 

planting plan with three 

blocked areas. 

Matthew takes up the 

story: “CSGN’s planting 

plan proved to be incredibly 

optimistic in the long run 

(eventually being narrowed 

down from 100 to 60 acres) 

but at that point it provided 

enough promise to kick off the 

project. 

“Next I enlisted the help of my 

colleague Gregor Dalziell to 

start the woodland application 

process. As well as collecting 

the required background 

information, including soil 

types, Scottish Forestry grant 

areas, forest suitability maps, 

haulage routes and regional 

forest strategies, photos 

were also taken of different 

viewpoints on and around the 

land to gauge the landscape 

impact. 

“We also commissioned 

additional information in the 

form of Deep Peat, Breeding 

Bird, Phase 1 Habitat and 

Archaeological surveys 

which allowed us to make an 

educated assessment of the 

project’s feasibility early on and 

we were able to quickly adjust 

the budget and present this to 

the client for reassessment. 

“It’s important to be proactive 

at this stage as it allows you 

to design your woodland 

around any potential barriers to 

planting. 

“The Archaeological survey was 

good and didn’t present many 

issues, likewise the Breeding 

Bird survey highlighted some 

factors but nothing too major 

aside from some contradictory 

statements about bird 

displacement between our 

survey and the one next door. 

“The Phase 1 Habitat survey 

threw up the most hurdles. 

This showed the proposed 

planting area to have a vast 

array of different habitats and 

highlighted some protected 

species in the form of a 

Butterfly Orchid and potentially 

a Great Crested Newt breeding 

ground as well as some Annex 

1 habitats. These were all to 

influence the design of the 

woodland and the tree species 

that would be selected for 

planting. 



T 

he plan remained fluid, 

allowing us to factor 

in the findings of each 

survey as we received them, 

then further consultation 

was sought from the various 

stakeholders (SF, SEPA, SNH, 

the local community council 

and East Dunbartonshire 

Council) together with some 

site visits to discuss our 

plans and issues highlighted. 

Clockwise from top left: 

l Bell Ingram Land 

Agent Matthew and 

his brother Ben are the 

fourth generation of 

Imries at Hillhead Farm. 

l Matthew is pictured 

inside the Linn Caves 

which are a stone’s 

throw from the site of 

the planned woodland. 

Popular with visitors, 

the man-made caves 

are a reminder of the 

quarrying which once 

produced lime for use on 

local farms. 

l Pond is the home of a 

colony of Great Crested 

Newts. 

l John Imrie is the third 

generation of Imries to 

farm in the Lennox Hills 

just north of Glasgow. He 

is pictured looking over 

the land on Blairskaith 

Muir earmarked for the 

new woodland scheme.

forestry 

forestry 

l John, Ben and 

Matthew pictured 

at the Branziet Burn 

waterfalls in front of 

the Linn Caves. 

Inevitably, the different 

perspectives from each of 

these stakeholders raised more 

issues along with suggestions 

on how to address them. 

“However, the time we spent 

gathering detailed information 

was well worth the effort as 

it has resulted in a woodland 

that has managed to balance 

the environmental, social and 

economic elements required 

to deliver a more sustainable 

project ensuring the benefits 

are experienced not just by our 

family business but the local 

and wider community as 

well. 

“The application was finally 

approved in June 2020 with 

the process having started 

in earnest in February 2019. 

While this site is admittedly 

more complex than some, 

it clearly demonstrates why 

it’s vital to have expert advice 

when embarking on any 

planting scheme.” 

ell Ingram’s Gregor 

Dalziell has been closely 

Binvolved in the Blairskaith 

project from the beginning 

and believes that clear and 

speedy communication with 

all stakeholders is key to 

delivering woodland projects. 

He adds: “A good example 

of this is that we were able 

to map the site using QGIS 

technology which meant 

that any amendments could 

quickly be added to the digital 

plan then fired back to all 

interested parties immediately. 

It’s a huge advantage to be 

able to map the area to the 

modern standards required by 

Scottish Forestry. That makes 

a massive difference to the 

success of the project. 

“Employing a rural professional 

services firm like Bell Ingram 

to deliver your woodland 

project means that you don’t 

just have access to our expert 

forestry team but to wide 

range of specialists whose land 

management experience and 

expertise spans everything 

from QGIS mapping to grant 

applications, planning to AMC 

funding.” 

l John pictured at the 

bridal path sign. 

" Community 

engagement is 

a big part of our 

vision for the 

Forest. " 

So what’s next for the 

Hillhead Forest project? 

Matthew Imrie says: “Community engagement is a big 

part of our vision for the Forest. There is already a bridle path 

through the farm which links Milngavie to Lennoxtown, and 

we plan to add gates and access points at certain locations to 

allow the public to walk through the forest and up to the trig 

point to enjoy the stunning views north to Ben Lomond and 

south over the city of Glasgow. 

“We want to develop the social/environmental aspects of 

the scheme by involving the community at the planting 

stage. Our aim is to encourage people to connect with 

their environment, while empowering them to research, 

experiment and engage with their local landscape and flora. 

“We are also keen to develop partnerships with our local 

schools using the Forest as an educational resource to bridge 

the gap between how young people in our urban areas see 

our countryside compared with those that live and work in it.” 

However, the long-term success of projects like Hillhead 

Forest is ultimately down to its potential to generate an 

income. 

Matthew concludes: “For many farmers forestry is becoming 

an increasingly important part of their income stream. The 

sector is exceptionally buoyant at present with investors 

taking advantage of current tax and grant regimes, as well 

as the opportunities offered by carbon credits. We’ll certainly 

be exploring carbon credits at Hillhead, not just to make our 

Forest economically viable, but as an important part of efforts 

to tackle climate change.” 

Find out more about small scale woodland schemes at 

www.bellingram.co.uk 

Woodland is a tax-efficient & 

climate-friendly investment 


8 bi2020 autumn ❘ ❘ winter autumn ❘ ❘ winter bi2020 9 

W 

ith positive news in short supply 

across much of the UK’s business 

landscape, it’s encouraging to 

report that forestry is faring better than 

many sectors as we continue to navigate 

the challenges of the Covis-19 crisis. 

The pandemic doesn’t appear to have 

negatively affected land values and 

sustainably produced timber continues to 

outperform commercial property, bonds 

and equities, making it a solid, long-term 

investment. 

For those looking for quicker returns, 

new woodlands still qualify under the 

agricultural Basic Payment Scheme and 

applicants can secure grant funding 

via the Scottish Rural Development 

Programme towards the cost of planting. 

Most encouragingly, however, government 

tree planting targets have opened up a 

raft of new opportunities with landowners 

now able to generate extra income from 

woodland creation by selling the rights 

to the carbon captured by newly planted 

trees. 

Scotland’s farms in particular are ripe for 

low-carbon practices while woodland is 

both a climate-friendly and tax-efficient 

investment. The rural sector can breathe 

life into the green recovery by investing in 

sustainable farming and forestry. 

We are currently working with a wide 

cross section of rural businesses to 

align their forestry programmes with 

this post-Covid landscape and the new 

trends in demand. So, whether you are 

exploring alternative land uses or need 

help to understand the grant process, 

we can help you with all aspects of your 

woodland strategy. 

ell Ingram’s highly experienced 

forestry team operates across 

BScotland and Northern England 

managing hundreds of acres of UK forests 

for landowners, farmers and commercial 

investors. 

Working closely with colleagues from Bell 

Ingram’s other specialist teams, including 

renewables, planning, tourism, rural 

agency and rural land management, our 

forest managers offer the whole package 

of expert and impartial management 

advice to help you get the most from your 

assets. 

Bell Ingram’s dedicated team 

of specialists provides the 

following forestry services: 

● Forest Management 

● Woodland Creation 

● Tree Safety Reports and Survey 

● Forest & Woodland Sales and 

Valuations 

● GIS Mapping and Drone Surveys 

● Forestry Investment 

➤ All our Forestry Managers are 

accredited members of the Institute for 

Chartered Foresters. 

For more information please contact 

Stuart McArtney on 01738 621 121 or 

check out our website 

www.bellingram.co.uk/forestry

land management 


A day in the life 

of a Bell Ingram 

Land Agent 

V 

Sarah Tyson 

Partner and Head of 

Valuations 

sarah.tyson@ 


ariety is the spice of life for Sarah 

Tyson, Partner in Perth’s Rural Land 

Management Department 

Spread across 10 offices, our land agents 

in Scotland and the north of England 

oversee many hundreds of thousands of 

hectares across our clients’ private and 

corporate estates, dealing with anything 

from property sales and valuations to 

managing estate staff or dealing with 

nature conservation issues. 

While life out of the office is perhaps the 

most interesting part of the job, an officebased 

day still involves many different 

tasks and liaison via telephone and email 

with the wider team involved in each 

project. 

The number and spread of jobs on the go 

at any one time means it is important to 

be a quick thinker and have the ability to 

switch between tasks. 

To give you a feel for the variety the job 

has to offer and demonstrate the extent 

of what we can do, we take you through a 

typical working day in the office (or virtual 

office) for our Head of Valuations and 

experienced Land Agent, Sarah Tyson. 

● Email advising client on prices for 

private sale of farmland and buildings 

in Perthshire. 

● Pulling together key heads of terms, 

including price, to put to a client’s 

neighbour who needs to bring a water 

pipe across the client’s property in 

Ayrshire, including technical details 

for road crossing as provided by 

● engineer. 

● Discussion with colleagues over 

a valuation needed for a Scottish 

property involved in a divorce case 

likely to go to court in England. 

● Arranging estate meeting with keeper, 

farm manager and handyman for 

Estate in Inverness-shire. Also dealing 

with invoices and contract for house 

cleaning firm for same estate. 

● Liaising with lawyer, QC and client 

over telecom mast site on a farm 

which is going to Scottish Land 

Tribunal hearing. 

● Writing to clients regarding proposal 

received to buy stone from derelict 

farm buildings following site meeting 

last week and further review of repairs 

to farm buildings. 

● Checking terms for Perthshire farm 

sale after offer received by sales 

department. 

● Dealing with enquiry for AMC funding 

from a purchaser who wishes to buy 

a property for use as farm shop and 

play area. Advised he speaks to local 

planning authority in Aberdeenshire 

as first step. 

● Reviewing comparable properties and 

draft report with a colleague valuing a 

high value residential property in the 

west of Scotland. 

● Providing fee estimates for valuation 

of land sales to neighbours, probate/ 

inheritance tax valuations and advice 

on purchase of buildings adjacent 

to client’s existing farmhouse, all in 

central Scotland. 

● Discussion with third parties over 

level of payment for timber extraction 

access to be taken over an existing 

forestry road in my client’s woodland, 

central Scotland. 

● Checking information provided 

by client for review of values 

required prior to transfer of estate 

in Inverness-shire to his children, 

including hydro-electric scheme 

and wind turbine, farmland, 

cottages and deer stalking rights. 

● Reviewing heads of terms for 

option and lease from a windfarm 

developer. 

● Reviewing salary levels for 

client’s staff on a managed 

estate, together with overall 

staff packages including vehicle, 

clothing allowance, telephone etc. 

● Liaison with estate contractors 

on nesting bats and owls, and 

electricity disconnection/re-routing 

for building due to be demolished. 

● Completing valuations for 

purchase of woodland and farms 

for pension fund providers, central 

Scotland. 

● And the everyday tasks of being 

a professional such as doing 

timesheets, issuing fees and 

keeping everything on the right file 

– whether hard copy or electronic. 

Land agents are certainly Jacks 

and Jills of all trades, covering a 

breadth of geographical locations, 

types of work, people encountered, 

knowledge bases and challenges. 

Whether you are a landowner, tenant 

or professional adviser wondering 

who can help you out with a 

property issue, get in touch with your 

local office – one of our team will 

probably have experience of exactly 

your issue. n 

➤ If you are considering a career 

in rural property, drop an email to 

enquiries@bellingram.co.uk 

telling us a bit about yourself and 

your aspirations. We are happy 

to consider those looking for a 

change of career as well as those 

seeking graduate opportunities 

– a lot of land managers started 

their working life in a different 

job! 

The Agricultural Mortgage 

Corporation (AMC) has been 

working with farmers for 

more than 90 years and is still 

supporting business, both new and existing 

customers, through the Covid-19 crisis. As a 

bank, AMC is an essential service, very much 

still open for business – and one that may never 

have been more essential to our countryside. 

With the bank base rate now down to 0.1%, 

the lowest ever in UK history, it is well worth 

taking an hour or so to review your financial 

arrangements. 

AMC offer long term loans from five years to 

30 years, on sums from £25,001 and upwards, 

and with the impact of the virus likely to be 

with us for a “wee while yet” as they say here in 

Scotland, every business will need to look at all 

its costs. 

Refinancing existing borrowing, including 

considering fixed rate and interest only 

options, is only to be recommended. Even if 

you generally aren’t a borrower, it may be that 

these unprecedented times will mean that 

you need to look at a loan to help keep things 

going in 2020 and beyond. This is especially 

so for any diversified farming or rural business 

whose world is turned on its head at the 

moment. 

AMC are able to review options and it may be 

that, subject to every individual circumstance, 

you really can get through this crisis, while 

at the same time setting up a good base for 

future borrowing with controlled costs. 

AMC loans can be transferred between 

generations, which is often a key point for 

farming families with the next generation 

already coming along. 

As agents we are used to reviewing all aspects 

of a business, we understand the cashflow 

through a farming year and can see behind 

the accounts to see the strengths of your 

enterprise. 

Different combinations of business streams 

are also nothing new – we have clients with 

complex finances, but one of our skills is to 

work with you to get a really clear picture since 

we are the ones presenting it to the bankers 

for, hopefully, approval. We liaise with your 

other regular professional advisers both during 

and after the application process, before 

carrying out a valuation of the security property 

once the loan is confirmed and you are happy 

with the terms. 

AMC have a strapline: straightforward finance 

for farmers and we like to think the Bell Ingram 

team are the straightforward agents to help 

you make the most of this. 

➤ If you would like to discuss AMC finance in 

confidence, call Sarah Tyson on 07710308614 

or email sarah.tyson@bellingram.co.uk 

and either Sarah or one of our team will be 

delighted to help you. 

*All AMC loans are subject to status. Ts&Cs 

apply. 

6 bi2019 summer summer bi2019 7 




Successful succession 

ensuring 

sustainable farm 

businesses 

Linda 

Tinson 

Partner Ledingham 

Chalmers 

rguably, there has never been a 

more appropriate time for those in 

Afarming businesses to have frank 

discussions about what’s next. 

There’s plenty of food for thought for 

farmers and growers over the next few 

months. 

For a start, there’s a likely downward trend 

in farm income support post-Brexit as well 

as concern over what happens with future 

trade deals. Plus, COVID-19 has been a 

salutary reminder of our own mortality. 

Succession planning is about putting your 

business on the best possible footing for 

the future. 

These are valuable businesses and, as 

such, when a family member wants to 

leave or retire and withdraw funds from 

the business, or when someone sadly 

passes away, the potential temptation for 

family members to ensure they receive 

their perceived — or assumed — share of 

that worth all-too-often means we see 

disagreements crop up. 

It is usually not enough to simply 

customise a standard will: the legal 

complexities of the Scottish system 

mean it is extremely important that the 

background of the business set-up is 

thoroughly investigated, so the party’s 

intention is accurately documented at the 

time of drafting. So clear communication 

and effective planning are crucial. 

Here are just two examples 

showing the reality of lack of 

succession planning. 

● Farmer dies without making a will 

Let’s consider the example of a married 

couple with two children; the father 

owning the farmland and house, worth 

around £2million (£350,000 of which is 

the farmhouse). 

In addition: 

• Farm stock and moveable items are 

worth £120,000 

• Furniture in the farmhouse is worth 

£17,000 

• Bringing the total estate value to 

£2,137,000 It is generally – and 

incorrectly – assumed in such 

situations that the spouse inherits 

the whole estate. 

If there is no will, a spouse or civil partner 

will be able to claim prior rights, and 

children can claim legal rights, with the 

remainder being the free estate. 

As such, the spouse is entitled to prior 

rights of: 

• A sum equal to the value of her 

husband’s interest in the farmhouse 

£350,000 

• A sum equal to the value of the 

furniture — up to a maximum of 

£29,000 

• A financial provision payment of 

£50,000 plus interest until the 

date of payment. 

The spouse is also entitled to claim their 

legal rights in the estate. (This is a claim 

where a spouse and surviving children 

or grandchildren can make a claim on a 

deceased’s moveable estate.) In this case 

the spouse would also be entitled to one 

third of the £120,000 assets, with the two 

children splitting another third, and the 

final portion going to the free estate. 

The free estate then passes to the children 

of the deceased. 

Thus whilst the spouse will get a 

considerable portion of the estate, worth 

around £457,000 in value, the children 

would inherit the balance, split equally 

between them, namely £840,000 each. 

● Farmer dies with valid will, but the farm 

held in partnership. 

In this scenario, the farmer leaves the 

farm in his will, to his eldest son and very 

little to either his wife or younger child. 

Using the same valuations as in the 

first example, here the farm is held in 

partnership with the wife and eldest son, 

but the farmer holds all the capital. 

In a quirk of Scots Law, if a farm is 

held in the partnership or in a limited 

company, the farm assets are deemed 

moveable estate. As such, a disinherited 

child or spouse can, in terms of the 

Succession (Scotland) Act 1964, make a 

claim for “legal rights” on the value of the 

moveable estate, including partnership 

assets or value of the company 

shareholding. 

I 

f there is a will and the spouse 

is not adequately provided for 

or disinherited altogether, the 

spouse would be entitled to a third of 

the moveable estate (approximately 

£712,333.33); the disinherited child 

could also claim half of the one third 

“pot” allocated to the children, which 

would be just over £356,000; the eldest 

child, as the beneficiary of the will, would 

be obliged to meet these claims before 

he inherited the balance of the estate. A 

hefty bill! 

This potential claim could be 

circumvented with planning; for 

example, had the farm been retained 

outwith the partnership it would remain 

heritable property and, as the law 

currently stands, that portion of the 

estate would not be subject to a legal 

rights claim. 

While we can never legislate for a family’s 

reaction to the passing of a relative, 

pragmatic protections can be put in 

place to avoid tools becoming weapons, 

and ensuring instead the continued 

success of the family farm: undoubtedly 

the best legacy of all. 

How to succeed 

at succession in a 

Covid-19 world 

Catherine Lawson 

Land Agent, Rural Land 

Management 

catherine.smith@ 


sk any farmer 

or landowner 

Awhy they are so 

motivated to look after 

their land in the way that 

they do and somewhere 

near the top (if not at the 

top) of the list will be their 

desire to keep the farm 

or estate in the family for 

future generations. 

So why, when it comes to 

succession planning, do 

the conversations dry up? 

While most family farms 

wish to keep the business 

within family, planning 

who will own and deal 

with farm assets when the 

head of the family dies is 

perceived as an awkward 

conversation that is all too 

often avoided until it’s too 

late. 

That’s why we need to 

change the mindset of 

what exactly ‘succession’ 

means. Succession is 

not about retirement, or 

even death, but simply 

a sensible part of your 

long-term business plan. 

Something written down 

after careful discussions so 

that it’s clear to everyone 

involved how and by 

whom farm assets are 

owned or dealt with on 

death. 

Establishing a succession 

plan, can avoid disputes, 

help secure tax benefits 

and, most importantly, 

keep the farming assets 

together. 

Having the initial 

conversation is often 

extremely difficult as 

mixing business and 

personal relationships 

can be tricky to navigate 

and upsetting family 

members is a very real 

fear. But the alternative 

is worse, and we all know 

stories of families being 

torn apart from the upset 

of not getting what they 

thought they would both 

prior to a death and 

sometimes afterwards as 

well. 

One of the key factors 

that drives succession is 

the likely tax treatment 

under Inheritance Tax 

(IHT) and this is where 

advance planning and 

working with the right 

professionals can save 

money. 

As the government looks 

to balance the books 

after unprecedented 

levels of spending 

during the Covid-19 

pandemic, there is 

some concern for the 

longevity of Agricultural 

Property Relief (APR) 

and the current personal 

inheritance tax threshold 

of £325,000. 

ithout an 

effective 

Wsuccession plan, 

not only will rural families 

be burdened with the 

stress of sorting out the 

affairs of the deceased 

but, if rumoured changes 

take effect, potentially 

they could face a tax 

bill of 40% of the value 

of the estate above any 

threshold figure. This 

means the need to 

start planning for the 

next generation’s future 

and your own tax bill 

has never been more 

pressing. 

So, where to start? 

Quite simply, the first step 

can be as easy as picking 

up the phone to your 

trusted team of advisers 

including your land agent, 

lawyer and accountant 

continued on page 14 ▶ 

In a quirk of Scots Law, if a farm is held in the partnership or in a limited company, the farm assets are deemed moveable estate. 

2 12 bi2019 bi2020 winter autumn ❘ winter autumn ❘ winter bi2020 bi2019 13 

3

who can work with you 

and your family to offer a 

range of different expertise 

and perspectives. Together 

the team can find practical 

and financial solutions to 

suit the family, creating 

transparency about 

the future and putting 

everyone’s minds at rest. 

If a review of likely market 

values has not been 

undertaken on all the 

aspects of your property 

in recent years, it could 

be that this is the first 

essential – the figures 

will give a good guide to 

the potential tax bill and 

then the professionals can 

review how to manage 

that most effectively. 

ell Ingram valuers 

are up-to-speed with 

Btheir local property 

market from sales, 

purchases and valuations 

and we are used to 

reviewing all the elements 

of a client’s farm or estate 

– from cottages to land, 

to forestry or renewable 

energy projects. 

Familiarity with other 

local professionals is also 

key, it is important that 

your accountant and 

lawyer also understand 

the possible options 

available to make rural 

tax planning effective – to 

secure available reliefs, 

transfer the ownership 

as desired and assist in 

ensuring that the business 

has a sound future. If your 

legal/tax adviser is not a 

rural specialist, then we 

can advise you of local 

contacts who have the 

particular expertise you 

need. 

In the wider picture, this 

planning exercise might 

also involve funding for 

a new owner if siblings 

or other relatives need 

to be “bought out” to try 

and ensure fair treatment 

or if new ideas demand 

capital – and it is here 

that AMC finance might 

be the final piece of the 

jigsaw that makes a plan 

workable. 

L 

ooking at all the 

property and 

people interests 

in the round, both now 

and with a bit of future 

proofing, really does help 

all involved secure the 

succession plans they 

would like - hopefully 

with no nasty surprises. 

The Bell Ingram Rural 

Land Management team 

valuers and AMC agents 

are happy to discuss your 

succession requirements 

or answer any questions. 

For an informal initial 

discussion in complete 

confidence contact our 

key rural contacts: n 

● Catherine Lawson, 

Forfar. Contact: 

07968 259662. 

● Sarah Tyson, Perth. 

Contact: 

07710 308614. 

● James Petty, 

Aberdeen. Contact: 

07974 934301. 

● Rob Whitson, 

Highlands. Contact: 

07703 822739. 

● Amy Clark Kennedy, 

Ayr. Contact: 

01292 886 544. 

Extension of 

planning consent 

implementation 

The Scottish Government has extended its 

emergency period in the Coronavirus Act, 

allowing an additional six months for planning 

consents to be implemented. 

Provisions have been made in the Coronavirus Act to extend the 

duration of all planning consents, which were due to expire during 

the emergency period between 7 April and 6 October 2020. 

The emergency period has now been extended to 6 April 2021, 

which in turn extends planning permissions due to expire within the 

extended emergency period, until 30 September 2021. 

Catherine Newton, Planning Consultant at Bell Ingram comments: 

“The extension of time comes as a great relief to many of our 

clients, especially those which have struggled to get environmental 

assessment work needed to discharge suspensive planning conditions 

or renew existing consent over this summer. 

“Our client at Rosehall in Sutherland needed survey work done before 

consent expires in October and now has until September 2021 to 

complete the work, which is will bring a much-needed viable new use 

to this Grade B listed building.” 

Bell Ingram’s planning service can provide practical advice on the 

development potential of your land and property, helping to secure 

planning permission for both urban and rural development. 

➤ Contact design@bellingram.co.uk for more information. n 

Changes to Scottish 

greening requirements 

Bell Ingram’s Rural Land Management team 

welcome changes to the Scottish Government’s 

£130m greening scheme. 

The most significant change for our clients is that the crop diversification 

rule no longer applies. The crop diversification rule required farmers 

growing arable crops to ensure their rotation included at least two 

or three crops, dependent on the amount of arable land theay farm. 

Land Agent Associate Catherine Lawson comments: “SGRPID releasing 

the updated guidance as harvest 2020 came to end was helpful 

timing, in so much as while many farmers have already sown 2021’s 

oilseed rape, there was still time to plan cropping to suit the land and 

field conditions, as well as the UK and global markets, rather than just 

ensuring compliance with the greening requirements.” 

Our land management team manage a large number of farms, estates 

and corporate properties, providing bespoke advice and management 

services to ensure our clients maximise their assets and achieve their 

aims. 

Find your nearest Bell Ingram office to discuss any aspect of your land 

management needs. See back page for office contact details. n 

14 4 PB bi2020 bi2019 autumn winter ❘ winter 

autumn ❘ winter bi2020 bi2019 PB 151 


B 

in brief 

Proud to sponsor SLE’s 2020 

Helping it Happen Awards 

ell Ingram was proud to support Scottish Land and Estate’s (SLE) 

Helping it Happen Awards 2020 as sponsors of the Education 

Category. 

The winners were announced during a virtual ceremony that took 

place on 30th September when Duffus Estate was crowned winner 

of the Education Award for its outdoor learning initiative to facilitate 

opportunities for sustainable education within a rural context. 

Now in its fourth year, the Helping It Happen Awards have become firmly 

established in recognising the role of estates, farms, organisations and 

individuals who are helping rural Scotland thrive. 

Managing Partner, Mark Mitchell said: “Bell Ingram is delighted to 

sponsor the Education Category and would like to congratulate winners 

Duffus Estate on their achievement. Education is a big part of our ethos 

at Bell Ingram and we are closely involved in a number of initiatives 

which provide education, awareness, training and career opportunities 

to people wishing to work in the rural sector. This award is particularly 

important because it recognises organisations who are connecting with 

future generations to pass on key skills and learning opportunities to 

Scotland’s rural communities.” 

arah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, added: 

“More than ever, this year has typified what Helping It Happen is 

Sall about – individuals, rural businesses and organisations going the 

extra mile to make a positive contribution to society. This work benefits 

us all by sustaining rural employment, providing high quality housing or 

helping Scotland meet its climate change goals. 

“The pandemic, and particularly the lockdown period, has given rise to 

many inspiring stories as people use their own talents, time and money 

to support their local communities. This is reflected in many of the 

nominations, particularly in the regional community champion awards. 

The nominations have been as strong as ever this year and we are pleased 

that the Helping It Happen awards are firmly established as a way of 

recognising how Scotland’s diverse rural businesses and organisations 

are making a vital contribution.” 

Bell Ingram clients David and 

Carole Young had reason 

to celebrate recently when 

members of Stirling Council’s 

Planning Panel unanimously 

approved their planning 

application for a visitor centre 

at popular beauty spot Finnich 

Glen. 

Working closely with Bell Ingram 

Design Director Iain Cram 

and the company’s Planning 

Consultant Catherine Newton, 

the application for the 10.9 

hectare site on the couple’s west 

Stirlingshire farm was first lodged 

last September. 

Iain Cram, says: “Expert planning 

advice is key to the success of 

ambitious projects like Finnich 

Glen and we are delighted that 

Stirling Council has supported 

our vision to create a destination 

of national and international 

importance at Finnich Glen. 

“From the beginning we 

have engaged with the 

local community and key 

stakeholders, and we firmly 

believe our proposals will 

enhance this stunning place. 

We have made every effort 

to ensure that the design of 

the proposed visitor centre 

NEAVA 

chairman’s 

role for James 

Aberdeen Partner James 

Petty has stepped into the 

role of Chairman of the North 

East Agricultural Valuers 

Association (NEAVA) 

The new organisation 

was formed following the 

merger of the NE Counties 

Auctioneers’ and Valuators’ 

Association and Banffshire, 

and Moray Valuators’ 

Association. 

It will be run as a forum for 

professional development, 

education and discussion 

between valuers in North 

East Scotland. It is a regional 

group affiliated to the 

Scottish Agricultural Arbiters 

& Valuers Association 

(SAAVA). 

At the AGM earlier this year, 

North East and Morayshire 

members agreed to merge 

the two groups and elect 

a new committee from 

the members of both. The 

new committee comprises 

Chairman James Petty (Bell 

blends into the landscape 

and isn’t visible from the road. 

The revenue it will generate 

will allow us to deliver the free 

parking and toilet facilities that 

are expected in any modern 

visitor attraction.” 

David Young adds: “The Finnich 

Glen visitor centre development 

will allow visitors to access 

the Glen safely and safeguard 

this stunning environment for 

future generations to enjoy. 

“In the longer term we hope 

to create a sustainable 

business and generate rural 

news 

Ingram), Vice-Chairman 

Steve Mackison (Allathan 

Associates), Secretary and 

Treasurer Catriona Mackison 

(Dunecht Estates) with Tim 

Macdonald (Aberdeen & 

Northern Marts), Tom Stewart 

(Galbraith) and Cara Thomson 

(Aberdeen & Northern Estates) 

as committee members. 

James Petty says: “I am 

delighted to be elected 

to the role of Chairman of 

the new Association. It is 

important to maintain this 

local valuers’ association as 

a forum for discussion and 

professional development. 

Given that we are currently 

facing uncertainty over the 

future of agricultural subsidies 

it is interesting to note from 

our archives that in 1922 the 

Association met to discuss 

corn subsidies so perhaps 

there are some lessons we can 

learn from history.” n 

l Taken before the current Covid 

restrictions, attendees at the 

inaugural meeting of NEAVA. L-R: 

Tom Stewart, Cara Thomson, Sandra 

McIntosh, Tim McDonald, Donna 

Skelly, Peter Chalmers, Aileen Law, 

Gervase Topp, Ed Dunbar, James 

Presly, James Petty, Steve Mackison, 

Susan Shand, David Greer, Andrew 

MacEwen, Roger Macpherson, John 

Angus. 

Finnich Glen: Expert planning advice is key to successful diversification 

jobs, something that’s never 

been more important as 

our economy struggles to 

survive during the Covid-19 

pandemic.” 

Bell Ingram Design and the 

Youngs will now be talking to 

potential operators to get a 

plan and finance in place for 

the development which will 

also comprise a 150-space car 

park and a network of paths, 

bridges and viewing platforms. 

More information about Bell 

Ingram’s planning consultancy 

service at www.bellingram.co.uk



Herdwick flock 

decline is a stark 

reminder of the dangers 

of chasing grants 

he announcement of new 

Government grant schemes can be 

Tboth a blessing and a curse for land 

managers. 

Land management requires owners 

and advisors to take a strategic view on 

management decisions, and poorly thought 

through “knee jerk” decisions to embrace 

new grant schemes seldom benefit the 

long-term viability of a property. 

With the uncertainty surrounding Covid-19, 

coupled with the fall-out from the Brexit 

deal or no deal, it is inevitable that owners 

and managers will seek to maintain income 

without considering the costs to the 

business and environment over the longer 

term. 

Recently the plight of the Herdwick Sheep 

has featured in the national press. This 

rare mountain breed, much loved and 

championed by Beatrix Potter, has declined 

to critical levels as a result of changing farm 

ownership, the growth of Airbnb farmhouse 

accommodation, and the practice of once 

proud flock owners following an easier life 

by taking Government grant funding to 

reduce flock numbers. 

The Lake District National Park Authority, 

who manage this World Heritage Site, 

recently confirmed that hill and mountain 

pastures are in poor and declining condition 

as a result of a lack of sheep grazing. The 

Malcolm Taylor 

Head of Land 

Management 

malcolm.taylor@ 


fashion for selling small hill farms has led to 

a dramatic decline in Herdwick numbers 

on the Lakeland Fells as these new owners 

claim grants from Natural England to 

remove stock. This in turn has led to the loss 

of positive grazing and threatened the very 

existence of this iconic native breed. 

North of the border we face similar 

challenges. The value of forestry land has 

increased beyond any normal levels with the 

high level of Government support for new 

planting, be it for timber or carbon credits 

and carbon offsetting. 

I 

n the 1980s there was a scramble in the 

South West of Scotland to plant every 

hill farm that could grow Sitka Spruce. 

The result was the rapid expansion of the 

forested estate but at the expense of loss 

of habitat for waders and moorland birds. 

Some years later acid rain, lochs devoid of 

brown trout and increased sedimentation 

of the Galloway salmon spate rivers grew 

to such an extent that the salmon and sea 

trout runs all but disappeared. 

On the brink of Brexit with no deal, there 

will inevitably be pressure on farmers and 

land owners to try and protect fragile 

incomes as best they can. This is quite 

understandable but “knee jerk” business 

for short term gain can not be the correct 

management decision. Care must be 

taken to ensure that decisions taken 

now will not adversely impact on either 

income streams, nor the environment, in 

the next few years. 

The proposed new organic scheme 

payments might look attractive in the 

short-term but how will they impact 

on other management activities eg. 

treated grit for grouse or treating sheep 

for ticks? We need to look beyond short 

term aims. Similarly removing ewes 

from a hill might be profitable in the 

short-term, but with reduced grazing 

hill pasture and heather will rapidly 

revert to scrub. This might suit some 

management aims but longer term 

owners and managers must be clear 

what their business objectives are. Short 

term gains are seldom the answer to 

long term management aims. Do we 

want rewilding or managed uplands for 

sheep and wildlife in general? We need 

to take a long term balanced view of 

land management. 

Before embarking on a new scheme to 

attract a grant, it is essential to decide 

what the long-term management aims 

of the property are. Chasing grants for 

the sake of short-term cash is never a 

good longer term objective. 

Bell Ingram’s land managers are all well 

versed in taking the long-term view of 

management of properties for future 

generations and also to enhance the 

biodiversity and ecological integrity of 

properties. The future of the Herdwick 

Sheep might be in the balance, but it 

is incumbent on owners and managers 

to ensure that our native Scottish sheep 

and cattle breeds, and their associated 

environment are not put in jeopardy for 

the sake of unsustainable grants. n 

16 2 bi2019 bi2020 winter autumn ❘ ❘ winter autumn ❘ ❘ winter bi2020 bi2019 17 

3 

F 

or 121 years Bell Ingram 

has managed some 

of the UK’s finest 

agricultural and sporting 

estates. 

From Somerset to Sutherland, 

the firm’s experienced 

Chartered Surveyors oversee a 

large number of farms, estates 

and corporate properties, and 

our bespoke, personal service 

ensures our clients maximise 

their assets and comply 

with the ever changing rural 

management requirements. 

At Bell Ingram we believe 

the best value is achieved 

by quality of delivery and 

attention to detail. Our 

Chartered Surveyors use 

the latest technology and 

resources available, to achieve 

the best results. 

Bell Ingram operates primarily 

in the rural marketplace, 

advising on all aspects of 

rural property management, 

development, sales and 

valuations. 

Our Chartered Surveyors can 

adopt a full management 

service or act in an occasional 

advisory role, depending on 

your needs. 

Our core services include 

Forestry Management, Farm 

and Sporting Management, 

Planning Consultancy, 

Architecture, Estate Agency, 

House Letting, Accountancy 

as well as Minerals and 

Renewables advice. 

With further divisions acting in 

specialist areas, we are able to 

pool resources and knowledge, 

and all our professionals have 

ready access to an enviable 

amount of experience, 

technical information and 

comparables. 

People are at the heart of our 

business delivering consistently 

high standards of professional 

service across all departments. 

H 

ead of Rural Land 

Manaement Malcolm 

Taylor says: “Bell 

Ingram’s reputation is built 

on a deep understanding 

of our clients requirements 

in the rural land sector and 

our ability to deliver effective 

solutions tailored to clients’ 

needs. 

“At Bell Ingram our staff 

pride themselves on a 

highly personal approach, 

outstanding service and 

attention to detail. The high 

levels of staff retention also 

mean that the firm’s clients 

can be sure of dealing 

with highly qualified and 

experienced people at all 

times. 

"At Bell Ingram 

we believe the best 

value is achieved 

by quality of 

delivery and 

attention to 

detail. " 

Rural Land 

Management experts 

with 121 years of experience 

“Much of our work comes 

through recommendations 

from satisfied clients and 

referrals from business 

partners. It’s a terrific 

compliment that people are 

happy to recommend the 

firm and is testament to the 

brilliant work done by Bell 

Ingram staff.” 

Established in 1899, the 

firm has a team of 110 

professional staff working 

across 10 UK offices (Perth, 

Aberdeen, Ambleside, Ayr, 

Beauly, Forfar, Morpeth, 

Northwich, Oban and 

Thirsk). n 

➤ For more information 

about our Rural Land 

Management Service 

please visit our website 

www.bellingram.co.uk/ 

land-management

utilities 

utilities 

pros& cons 

pros& Weighing up the 

cons 

of Solar PV 

Renewable energy technical consultant, Joe 

Fergusson, gives his thoughts on the current state-ofplay 

in the solar PV and battery storage markets, 

and on the feasibility of these technologies in light 

commercial situations. 

Anticipating the UK economy 

emerging from pandemicinduced 

‘intensive care’, there 

are loud calls from a range of 

pressure groups for the ‘rebuilding’ policies 

that will lay the foundations for our route 

to a Carbon-neutral Britain to be legally 

enforced. 

As these policies very slowly take shape it 

is hoped that the waning direct support 

schemes for low-carbon heat and power 

technologies might be ‘re-loaded’, giving 

a much-needed boost to the heat pump, 

hydro, solar, biomass and small wind 

industries. However, the only support so 

far under consultation is a £4,000-perinstallation 

Clean Heat Grant to replace 

the Renewable Heat Incentive when that 

finally dwindles to nothing in March 2022. 

Solar PV is evidently considered a mature 

technology, sustainable without further 

state subsidy. The installation cost of the 

panels, inverters and mountings is not 

changing much over time but the price 

of those components has now fallen to 

a point where, even without the feed-in 

18 bi2020 autumn ❘ winter autumn ❘ ❘ winter bi2020 19 

2 bi2019 winter 

Joe Fergusson 

Renewables 

Consultant 

joe.fergusson@ 


tariffs that drove the market between 2011 

and 2018, it is now cost-effective to install 

a system of an appropriate size, ie. such 

that the majority of the power generated 

is consumed on site, displacing power that 

would otherwise be purchased. With the 

electricity price now risen to 15-17p per 

kilowatt hour (kWh), the payback can be 

attractive, especially when carbon savings 

are a consideration. 

Output from solar PV systems is highly 

variable on a daily and seasonal basis. 

For an example, on a cloudless May day 

with a cooling breeze in central Scotland, 

a 90 module (panel) PV array covering 

150m2 of roof, or ground-mounted, 

might generate 200 kWh over the day. 

Some of the output, up to 25 kW, could 

be used by machinery or by heat pumps 

heating a building, and some stored in 

a battery bank. The surplus would be 

exported, earning a guaranteed minimum 

export tariff. On a dull day in November 

or February this same system might 

generate just 20 kWh in the day or less. 

The annual total should be around 21,000 

kWh. 

Depending on many factors the value of 

this system’s generated power, in savings 

and exports, could be in the region of 

£3,000. The installation of such a system 

(not including battery) may cost in the 

region of £30,000, giving a payback 

period of about a decade, before allowing 

for any future electricity price increases. 

The system should last at least 25 years, 

the output diminishing only very slowly 

over the long term. 

Where there is significant onsite 

consumption during the 

hours of darkness it is worth 

considering the feasibility of 

storing surplus power in batteries sized to 

suit normal overnight consumption. This is 

likely to rise with the fast-growing uptake 

of electric vehicles. A commercial battery 

system appropriate for the PV installation 

described above, storing 30-40kWh, 

might cost £15-25,000 at the moment. 

The efficiency of panels and batteries may 

rise slowly and Government support could 

possibly return, but whether these factors 

will overcome the savings lost to delay is 

the moot question. 

Exciting developments in ‘smart tariffs’ 

that reward those making battery capacity 

momentarily available to the National 

Grid for frequency and voltage balancing 

purposes could accelerate investment 

paybacks considerably. As these systems 

continue to fall in price our advice is to 

at least ‘future-proof’ any new building 

development or PV system by ensuring that 

battery banks and the associated control 

hardware – and also EV charging equipment, 

benefitting from 3-phase power supply – can 

be easily retrofitted in years to come. 

Independent advice on the ideal system 

sizing and configuration will ensure the best 

outcome. n 

➤ Joe Fergusson can assist 

with weighing up the pros 

and cons. joe.fergusson@ 

bellingram.co.uk 07711 552693. 

winter bi2019 3

utilities 

utilities 

utilities 

Inside the Penrith 

Resilience Project 

As part of the company’s 

framework with Northern 

Gas Network (NGN), Bell 

Ingram is assisting in the 

delivery of the Penrith 

Resilience Project. 

The programme of works will see the installation of a 

new 10km 315mm HDPE (high-density-polythene) cross 

country intermediate pressure gas main, along with a new 

governor and pressure regulator, and a 1.5km section of 

medium pressure gas main. 

Ambleside-based Land Agent Andrew Thompson 

explores the challenges of determining the pipeline’s 

route through a unique landscape rich with historic, 

environmental and geographical features … 

W 

Andrew Thomson 

Associate Rural 

Land Management 

andrew.thomson@ 


ith the Pennines to the east and the Lake District Fells to 

the west, visitors to Cumbria’s Eden Valley are drawn to 

its rich history and beautiful countryside which is dotted 

with traditional towns, attractive sandstone villages and significant 

buildings like Brougham Castle which dates from Norman times. 

The area’s Neolithic past is a highly visible part of the landscape 

with two henges - Mayburgh Henge and King Arthur’s Round 

Table – bringing droves of visitors to Eamont Bridge, just south of 

Penrith, each year. 

Penrith itself was a key confluence of communication routes 

during Roman times with the invaders establishing control of the 

region from AD 72 until their withdrawal some 300 years later. 

Their roads led north to Luguvalium (Carlisle), south through the 

Lune Gorge and along the summit of ‘High Street’ from the fort 

at Brocavum to Galava at Ambleside. The modern A66 east still 

follows the old Roman road to York. 

This unique history was one of the major factors that Bell Ingram’s 

chartered surveyors had to consider when determining the route 

of Northern Gas Network’s new pipeline through part of the Eden 

Valley. 

Andrew Thompson explains: “Once the historical context had 

been understood, we then had to consider a number of additional 

natural and man-made features which all needed to be either 

crossed or drilled under. These included the two tributary rivers 

of the River Eden (the Lowther and the Eamont) which are both 

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Sites of Special Scientific 

Interest (SSSIs), and the A66, which all needed to be either crossed 

or drilled under.” 

O 

nce a preferred route was agreed that accommodated all 

these sensitive historic, environmental, and geographic 

features, the next step was to identify the affected 

landowners and commence negotiations. 

Andrew continues: “Community engagement and two-way 

communication is central to the successful delivery of this 

project. NGN’s preference is to agree rights by negotiation, 

rather than using the compulsory purchase powers granted 

to gas transporters under the Gas Act 1986, which means 

building meaningful, long-term relationships based on trust and 

integrating feedback into our project. By approaching landowners 

in this way we hope to create a legacy of safety for communities 

and the environment. 

“It’s also a policy that’s proved highly effective and negotiations, 

not only with Landowners, but authorities such as Cumbria County 

Council, Penrith Town Council, Highways England, Environment 

Agency, are now nearing completion albeit some six months later 

than anticipated due to the Covid-19 pandemic which delayed the 

appointment of a contractor. This inevitable hold-up has resulted 

in the final details on delivery, design and methodologies only 

recently being agreed between the principal contractor, thirds 

party consultees and landowners.” 

The preferred methodology adopted for both the in-carriageway 

and cross-county works was directional drilling which logical for 

the river and A66 crossings and in principle for the agricultural 

land. Ultimately it should be not be as intrusive as open cutting 

the pipe in.” 

Site establishment is earmarked for mid-September with a six to 

eight-month programme focussing on the works within the two 

river floodplains and the agricultural land. n 

Mapping out the 

benefits of GIS 

support for UK 

businesses 

By Marcus Humphrey, GIS Manager 

ver the last decade, 

geospatial data and 

Omapping technologies 

have played an important 

role in responding to disease 

outbreaks and natural 

disasters. 

For example, Japan used 

spacial tools to identify 

evacuation routes and coordinate 

recovery efforts during 

2019’s Typhoon Hagabis … and 

more recently the World Health 

Organisation’s dashboard is 

providing the latest updates on 

the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The use of mapping to track 

such global events once again 

underlines both the value 

and versatility of Geographic 

Information Systems (GIS), 

and is helping to increase 

awareness of its ‘real world’ 

value among the general 

public. 

GIS are becoming big news 

in the business world too, 

with GIS software used 

widely across almost all fields, 

Complex 

utilities projects 

often require GIS 

support, and we are 

working with a national 

utility company 

to identify a large 

number of previously 

unmapped 

assets. 

including utilities, property, 

land management, forestry 

and construction. 

But what is GIS? And 

why should you be using 

it in your business? 

Put simply, GIS is a digital map 

which allows you to capture, 

store, manipulate, analyse, 

manage, and present spatial 

or geographic data. Google 

Earth, for example, is a GIS 

in its simplest form, allowing 

users to pan, zoom, rotate and 

tilt the view of the Earth. The 

software also gives users the 

option of adding markers, lines 

and shapes, populate tables 

and visualise dense geographic 

data on a map. 

2 PB bi2019 winter winter bi2019 1 

20 bi2020 autumn ❘ winter 

autumn ❘ winter bi2020 21 

B 

ut, impressive though 

it is, the capabilities of 

Google Earth pale in 

comparison to GIS platforms 

that are developed specifically 

to conduct spatial analyses 

of almost any kind. GIS allows 

you to visualise all of your data 

with geographical context and 

there are numerous reasons 

why you might want to do this. 

You might be a forestry 

manager who needs 

to develop an effective 

management system or 

estimate an area’s income 

from timber sales in minutes 

rather than the weeks spent 

drawing maps from scratch. 

Maybe you are an architect 

searching for a site for a new 

supermarket who requires 

complex location analysis, 

or a land agent embroiled 

in a boundary dispute who 

needs land ownership or land 

referencing data to identify 

persons and organisations that 

have a legal interest in land or 

property as well as details of 

the nature of that interest. 

Currently, Bell Ingram’s 

qualified GIS staff are 

contributing to a number of 

projects which underline the 

value and versatility of GIS. 

Complex utilities projects 

often require GIS support, and 

we are working with a national 

utility company to identify a 

large number of previously 

unmapped assets. This will 

allow our client to see all their 

assets in one place and assign 

surveyors as appropriate for 

the geographical location. 

Elsewhere, another client 

looking to acquire a new 

site has tasked our GIS 

team to work on a feasibility 

study. This land has to 

tick three boxes: a certain 

agricultural classification; 

within a set distance of the 

current location; and has to 

be at least 200 acres. We 

have performed a spatial 

analysis and, to aid in land 

referencing, also consulted 

the national government land 

registry dataset. 

Bell Ingram is one of the few 

firms that has a dedicated 

and experienced GIS team 

working across the fields of 

Utilities, Property, Forestry, 

Architecture and Land 

Management. 

➤ During the current 

pandemic, our GIS experts 

are working remotely in line 

with government rules. If you 

would like to discuss how 

GIS could help your business 

please contact Marcus 

Humphrey on 01738 645588 

or email marcus.humphrey@ 

bellingram.co.uk n

promotions 

promotions 

Hannah Rayne Rhona Booth Helen Russell Amy Clark Kennedy John Lewis Jason Oakley Catherine Lawson Catherine Newton Johan McKenzie 

Moira Webley 

appointments 

and promotions 

strengthen Bell 

10key 

Ingram’s UK teams 

Bell Ingram unveiled a raft of promotions 

and new appointments this year as the 

company continued to strengthen our 

teams across 10 UK offices 

Hannah Rayne was promoted 

to Partner in the Utilities and Land 

Management team in January. Based in 

our Northwich office, MICS Registered 

Valuer Hannah will take a leading role 

in advising clients and growing the 

department. 

Throughout her career, Hannah has built 

expertise in both land management 

and pipeline and utility projects, 

with specialisms in corporate estate 

management, valuation, and landlord 

and tenant matters. Her experience 

also encompasses land agency services 

for major infrastructure schemes, cross 

country pipelines, and wayleave services 

for underground and above ground 

cables. 

In March Rhona Booth, a qualified 

Rural Chartered Surveyor and RICS 

Registered Valuer, joined Perth’s Land 

Management Department bringing over 

20 years’ experience in the sector. 

Hailing from a dairy farm in Midlothian 

and now farming in partnership with her 

husband in Angus, Rhona’s agricultural 

expertise and understanding of rural 

businesses complements the services 

already offered by the Perth office which 

provides land management and farm 

sales in addition to forestry management 

and consultancy, architectural services as 

well as residential agency. 

Rhona has taken on the role of joint APC 

training co-ordinator (along with with 

Catherine Lawson) and her experience as 

an APC Assessor is a great benefit to the 

firm’s RICS trainees. 

Helen Russell joined Bell Ingram’s 

Morpeth office in August. A qualified 

Chartered Surveyor with over 14 years’ 

experience in the land and property 

sector, Helen has worked throughout the 

north of England, most recently as Land 

Director for Gladman Developments. She 

has extensive experience of working on 

a large number of property transactions 

from management to initial appraisal/site 

finding through the planning process to 

disposal. 

Most recently the firm made a further 

seven Associate appointments and 

promotions. Amy Clark Kennedy, 

John Lewis and Jason Oakley 

were promoted to Senior Associate while 

Catherine Lawson, Catherine Newton, 

Johan McKenzie and Moira Webley were 

appointed to Associate. 

Part of the company’s Ayr team, Amy 

Clark Kennedy specialises in 

compulsory purchase, valuation, and 

landlord and tenant, particularly in relation 

to the utilities sector and has dealt with 

a number of schemes for Scottish Power. 

She has an agricultural background 

helping her husband run the family farm 

in Galloway. 

John Lewis, who is based in Thirsk, 

joined Bell Ingram in 2015 as a land agent 

and has a background in the pipeline 

industry within Yorkshire Water and MMB. 

He specialises in the areas of corporate 

estate management, pipelines and 

utilities, and rural land management. 

Morpeth-based Jason Oakley has 

worked for National Grid, Scottish Power 

Energy Networks on electricity tower 

refurbishments and windfarm connections 

as well a distribution networks rebuild 

for Scottish Power Energy Networks and 

Northern Powergrid. Currently Jason 

provides Wayleave Services to Northern 

Powergrid on full time basis. 

Elsewhere, Catherine Lawson joined 

Bell Ingram in 2014 working in the Perth 

office before moving to the Forfar office 

in 2019. She undertakes all aspects of 

rural estate management, valuation, 

farm management, residential property 

management and lettings. 

Catherine Newton has worked for Bell 

Ingram in Perth as a Planning Consultant 

since 2012. Her career spans 30 years and 

has included public and private sector, 

government agency and charity roles. 

She brings an extensive knowledge and 

understanding of planning legislation to 

every project. 

Also based in Perth, Johan McKenzie 

joined Bell Ingram in October 2018 after 

having worked in private practice for over 

23 years. She is a qualified accountant 

with experience in preparation of end 

of year accounts and tax returns for sole 

traders, partnerships, trusts, and limited 

companies. 

Moira Webley moved into property 

sales in 2006, changing focus after many 

years in the conveyancing department of a 

legal firm. After joining Bell Ingram in 2016 

she has developed excellent relationships 

with clients, visiting sellers and nurturing 

prospective buyers. 

Graham 

Lumby, Chairman 

of Bell Ingram, said: “I am 

delighted to announce these latest 

promotions and appointments. All are 

experts in their respective fields and their 

wealth of experience makes them great 

assets to both Bell Ingram and our clients.” 

Mark Mitchell, Managing Partner of Bell 

Ingram continued: “The firm is particularly 

pleased to unveil these promotions to 

Associate and Senior Associate, despite the 

challenges caused by the current pandemic. 

These excellent specialist staff deserve 

this recognition and it signals the start 

of a return to normality as we ease 

out of lockdown. 

Congratulations to all of 

them.” 

➤Please visit the ‘Our People’ page on our website www.bellingram.co.uk for staff contact details. 


agency 

agency 

n this year of change, 

if you are looking for a 

sign that it is time to 

sell – this is it! 

Despite restrictions 

caused by Covid-19 Bell 

Ingram saw good levels 

of demand and activity 

during the lockdown period. 

Since the beginning of March, 

our agents in Oban, Beauly, 

Aberdeen, Forfar and Perth 

have dealt with almost 500 

enquiries, with buyers and 

sellers making good use of 

virtual viewing platforms while 

travel and home visits were 

banned. 

As predicted by our Head of 

Estate Agency, Carl Warden, 

there has been fierce 

competition among buyers 

with the best properties quickly 

under offer. Take a look at some 

of the outstanding properties 

we have sold this year: 

• Milnathort, Kinross-shire. 

Offers over £680,000 

• Appin, Arygle & Bute. 


• Carrbridge, Highland. 


• Drumnadrochit, Highland. 


• Kinnaird, Perthshire. 

Offers over £1,100,00 

• Tobermory, Isle of Mull. 


• Milnathort, Kinross-shire. 


• Kinross, Kinross-shire. 


• Strathmiglo, Fife. 

Fixed price £539,000 

• Aros, Isle of Mull. 


• Monymusk, Aberdeenshire. 


• Lindores, Fife. 

Fixed price £495,000 

SOLD 

●Milnathort ●Appin 

Fierce 

competition 

among 

buyers set to continue 

SOLD 

●Carrbridge ●Drumnadrochit 

SOLD 

●Kinnaird 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

●Tobermory 

2 24 bi2019 bi2020 winter autumn ❘ winter autumn ❘ winter bi2020 bi2019 25 

3 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

SOLD 

●Milnathort 

●Kinross 

●Strathmiglo 

●Aros 

SOLD 

●Monymusk ●Lindores 

Meet our 

premium 

property experts 

Bell Ingram’s Estate Agency team faced a 

challenging start to the year, with viewings 

grinding to a halt during the UK’s official 

lockdown period. 

Despite the traditional house buying process 

being turned on its head, our creative team 

did not let this dampen their spirits, quickly 

implementing virtual viewings and even 

selling a property after one viewing was 

filmed on the seller’s iPhone. 

With the market now back in full swing, our 

agents are offering a free market appraisal 

service for sellers looking to make their next 

move. Based in key locations across Scotland, 

their in-depth understanding of the regional 

and national markets enables our team 

to achieve the best possible result for your 

property’s sale or purchase. 

Drawing on over 100 years’ experience, we 

offer an extensive property database which 

provides relevant, comparable evidence 

for market appraisals when marketing 

properties and matching buyers to suitable 

homes. 

Carl Warden, 

Perth 

Carl heads up the Estate 

Agency Department for 

the company. He has 

been marketing property 

in the Perth and Kinross 

area for over 30 years 

and has a wealth of experience selling 

prime residential property; from period 

homes to contemporary developments. 

SOLD 

Carl is well known across the sector, having 

developed excellent relationships with 

buyers and sellers, and is able to offer a 

comprehensive and professional service. 

Andrew 

Fuller, 

Oban 

Andrew manages Bell 

Ingram’s Oban office 

which is just a short ferry 

ride from his home on 

the Isle of Mull. With 

his extensive knowledge of Scotland’s 

west coast and islands, his track record of 

bringing some of the area’s most stunning 

properties to the market is second to 

none. Andrew also brings a wealth of 

property management and investment 

experience after managing high-end 

development projects in the United Arab 

Emirates for 15 years. 

Joanne 

Stennett, 

Highland 

Joanne’s area of 

expertise is the Highland 

and Islands property 

market, and no-one 

knows it better. Coordinating 

Bell Ingram’s Highland estate 

agency service from our new Beauly office, 

Joanne is a rural property specialist who 

has lived and worked in the area for many 

years. Her exceptional local knowledge and 

strong community connections can help 

sellers maximise the sale price and help 

buyers find their perfect property. 

➤If you would like to find out more about 

selling your property or to book your free 

market appraisal, contact your local 

Bell Ingram office: bellingram.co.uk/ 

contact-us/ 

For a free market appraisal, visit out website bellingram. 

co.uk/estate-agency/our-bespoke-service/

agency 


Loo Rolls And Other 

Flying Objects 

A 

s we head into autumn and further 

Covid restrictions, Estate Agency 

Partner Carl Warden assesses the 

state of the property market. 

So many people are asking us about the 

property market at the moment. To provide 

some perspective, we often answer the 

question with a question. We ask: “Do you 

remember back in March, how loo rolls 

became difficult to find as they were flying 

off supermarket shelves?” 

“It would be hard to forget,” most people 

reply. 

So we say: “That’s what’s happened to 

property: houses are flying off our books.” 

While the country was in lockdown, no 

one could envision what would happen to 

the property market next - including us. 

We couldn’t predict the strength of public 

demand for changes in surroundings and 

lifestyle. We couldn’t know how people 

would react to isolation, sudden changes 

in working practices and the resulting 

ell Ingram is proud to 

support Scotland’s Charity 

BAir Ambulance (SCAA) as 

one of our partner charities. 

For more than seven years, SCAA 

has been providing a frontline, 

fast-response, life-saving service 

to communities throughout the 

country. 

Carl Warden 

Head of Estate 

Agency 

carl.warden@ 


opportunity to commute less often but 

therefore further – providing the chance to 

buy a larger suburban or rural house and 

garden. 

ow, after several months of the most 

extraordinary market most of us can 

Nremember, we have experienced the 

combined effects of the Covid and Brexit 

bounces, the relaxation of stamp duty and 

low-interest rates. 

Many first and second-time buyers and 

sellers won’t remember the days when 

the market was on fire like this; when 

there were multiple offers on houses for 

sale, prices were spiralling upwards, and 

property was selling almost as soon as it 

came on to the market. 

The air ambulance is recognised 

as a vital cog in Scotland’s 999 

emergency response network, 

flying expert paramedics to 

the scene of serious illness and 

injury and airlifting patients to 

definitive hospital care. 

SCAA’s service has turned 

potential uncomfortable road 

ambulance journeys of hours 

into smooth and comfortable 

flights of just minutes - a 

speed that can often make the 

difference between life and 

death. Especially in remote and 

rural areas where land access 

is difficult and distances to 

hospital care extensive. 

From the Western Isles to the 

eastern coast and Orkney to 

the Borders, this amazing 

charity - funded by the people 

of Scotland, for the people of 

Scotland - has proved a lifeline 

for those in desperate need. 

SCAA has responded to that 

need more than 2,600 times for 

men, women and children all 

across Scotland involved in lifethreatening 

situations. 

SCAA launched a second 

helicopter air ambulance 

based at Aberdeen in April - 

callsign Helped 79 - to join its 

stablemate Helimed 76 which 

has operated out of Perth 

Airport since 2013. 

Together, the SCAA fleet 

doubles the helicopter air 

ambulance capacity in Scotland, 

working alongside the two 

Government-funded helicopters 

based at Glasgow and Inverness. 

CAA has touched 

thousands of lives - be 

Sthey patients, relatives, 

colleagues or neighbours. 

And the reason they can 

fly fast, save lives and tend 

those most in need is down 

to those companies, groups 

But we remember those days. We 

remember them very well. That is why 

we are highly experienced and skilled in 

dealing with this unexpectedly buoyant 

market. 

For those thinking of buying before the end 

of the stamp duty reprieve, we recommend 

doing so now. Why? Because neither we 

nor anyone else, including the Chancellor, 

knows what’s going to happen next. 

Another national lockdown – if there were 

to be one - might only temporarily suppress 

this strong market and drive even more 

people to want to move. But big questions 

remain about the market in 2021. 

High unemployment, a negative Brexit 

trade deal, tighter mortgage criteria and 

the end of the stamp duty relaxation, could 

turn off the tap that was so dramatically 

turned on in July. 

Only time will tell. But in the meantime 

what we do know is that property is flying 

and we are here to help buyers and sellers 

fly with it. 

Supporting the vital work of the Charity Air Ambulance 

and individuals who give so 

generously. 

Public donations are the only 

fuel that SCAA can fly on. 

SCAA’s professional and expert 

crew can provide the frontline 

time-critical response that will 

continue flying help and hope 

across Scotland - but it is the 

people in every family, every 

community and every region 

of this country that will ensure 

they stay in the air. 

Their continued invaluable 

contribution funds this 

amazing charity and will fuel 

it into the next era so that 

the crews of Helimed 76 and 

Helimed 79 can be there for 

everyone. 

With the help of the people of 

Scotland, SCAA will continue 

to make a difference, flying a 

first-class expert paramedic 

response to those most in need 

- saving time, saving lives. 

Fostering the next generation 

of rural decision makers with 

Countryside Learning 

Scotland partnership 

espite the current by working with young people will continue to bridge the 

uncertainty with 

and fully involving them in this gap between how people 

DCovid-19, Countryside process. 

in our urban areas see our 

Learning Scotland (CLS) are 

countryside compared with 

pressing ahead with ambitious 

Youth Advisory 

those that live and work in it.” 

plans to welcome a group 

Group project 

of young people from all 

manager, 

Mark Mitchell, Managing 

backgrounds on to their board 

David Ritchie Partner at Bell Ingram 

to have their say on the future 

(pictured) 

adds: “We are delighted to 

of rural education. 

describes the be involved in this exciting 

move as ‘forward project. The rural community 

Sponsored by Bell Ingram, 

the Youth Advisory Group, 

will consist of a group of 

ten representatives, aged 15 

thinking’ 

and a fantastic leadership 

development opportunity for 

the members of group. 

can learn so much from the 

younger generation, whether 

its efficiencies in technologies 

or simply a different world 

to 19 years from across all 

view. 

demographics of Scotland, 

David Ritchie says: “The 

both rural and urban. 

project embraces the opinions “At Bell Ingram we know 

of young people from both the importance of nurturing 

The Youth Advisory Group will 

work closely with the board 

of trustees to help define the 

remit and future direction 

of the charity. Countryside 

Learning Scotland will embrace 

the principles of co-design in 

its future education provision 

urban areas and countryside 

alike; what it is they want to 

learn about the countryside 

and how they want to learn. 

This is a progressive shift 

from a more traditional top 

down approach. We hope 

this more inclusive approach 

young people and listening 

to their views on how things 

should be done, and this is an 

approach we like to take with 

our graduate and assistant 

land managers. Good luck to 

those applying to be part of 

this great project.” n 

26 2 bi2019 bi2020 winter autumn ❘ winter 

autumn ❘ winter bi2020 bi2019 27 

3 


Image copyright: CLS and Rebecca Lee Photography

design 

design 

The UK’s business 

landscape has been 

transformed almost beyond 

recognition over the last six months. 

One of the most visible changes is the 

shift towards remote working with 

Cloud-based software and modern 

communications platforms like 

Zoom and Teams enabling 

millions of employees to 

work from home. 

While this new normal seems set to 

continue for the foreseeable future 

with many companies, including 

Google, telling staff they can work from 

home until the middle of next year, it 

would be premature to suggest that 

traditional office working is a thing of 

the past. 

home for reasons including financial 

and health concerns, childcare and 

work-life balance, many others are 

“chomping at the bit” to get back into 

the office. 

However, after months of working from 

home, the prospect of returning to an 

office environment can feel daunting. 

So the challenge for those tasked with 

designing the offices of the future 

will be to create spaces that not only 

factor in the enhanced sanitation and 

social distancing measures that have 

become such an important part of our 

working lives, but also elegantly bridge 

the gap between home and office. 

Most importantly you need to think 

about how you actually live and what 

you really want. 

Senior Architect Murray Fleming 

and Architectural Technologist 

Lauren Livingston are working on 

a number of exciting projects for both 

public sector and private clients. We 

ask them how they envisage design 

both at work and home evolving in the 

wake of the Covid-19 pandemic: 

In fact, while many people have 

seized the opportunity to work from 

Covid 

Covid 

How 

is changing the way we 

design our homes & offices 

What’s your own 

preference, home or 

office? 

Both! Flexible 

MF working has always 

been part of the set-up at 

Bell Ingram Design with 

colleagues splitting their 

time between our offices and 

working remotely, either at 

home or on-site. We make 

full use Microsoft Teams 

which allows our team of 

architects, technologists, 

planners and surveyors to 

work collaboratively and share 

ideas across a huge range of 

projects. 

I think working 

LL between office and 

home offers the best of both 

worlds. The peace and quiet of 

the home environment allows 

you to be super productive 

without distractions, while 

the office environment is 

vital for bouncing ideas 

off your colleagues. Teams 

and Zoom are fantastic, 

but nothing beats face-toface 

communication and 

interaction with colleagues 

and clients. This is particularly 

important for recent graduates 

who need real time feedback 

and guidance from managers 

and senior members of staff if 

they are to learn and progress. 

How will Covid 

change the way 

we work? 

There’s a lot of 

MFdiscussion around 

the impact of office layout 

and safe spacing on the 

spread of Covid-19. Before 

the pandemic, traditional 

office layouts had staff sitting 

at desks directly facing one 

another. These days that’s 

bad news for obvious reasons 

because no-one wants 

someone breathing over 

them all day long, and vice 

versa. The kneejerk reaction 

is to put up Perspex screens 

everywhere but there are 

other equally effective and 

more elegant solutions that 

are well worth consideration. 

Clients are looking 

LL for smart working 

solutions, particularly hot 

desking, to give them the 

flexibility to expand without 

adding more workstations. 

Wireless devices, laptops and 

mobile phones allow staff to 

choose a free desk, sit down 

and plug in. Then it’s just a 

matter of clearing your desk 

at the end of the day and not 

using anyone else’s keyboard. 

How is Covid 

changing the way you 

design office space? 

I am currently 

MF working with a public 

sector organisation who are 

in the process of relocating its 

headquarters from traditional 

offices to a new building with 

a modern, hot desking set-up. 

Space planning is extremely 

important to this client as 

staff must feel safe returning 

to an office environment. 

Perspex screens are the 

obvious way to ensure safe 

distancing, but I want to 

create a workspace that’s 

visually interesting and 

increases wellbeing rather 

than just building more boxes 

to work in. To achieve this, 

I’m making extensive use of 

plants throughout the office 

space to produce the physical 

distance required between 

workstations. As well as being 

extremely effective, they look 

beautiful, cleanse the air and 

are great for wellbeing. 

I am also looking at innovative 

ways to construct safer shared 

spaces. For example, do you 

really need to have a door? 

And if you do need a door, 

does it need a handle or 

could it be an electronic, or 

foot operated instead? 

Covid has made 

LL everyone more 

aware and cautious of the 

surrounding environment. 

People want spaces that 

are easy to manoeuvre and 

that minimise unnecessary 

contact. Once we have spoken 

to our client and have a 

greater understanding of the 

spaces they require and how 

they work we can design a 

bespoke layout that works for 

their employees and visitors. 

At Bell Ingram Design we 

have the in-house knowledge 

and expertise to produce 

high quality 3D visualisations 

which bring our plans to life 

helping our clients visualise 

the space. 

How will the home 

working trend affect 

house design? 

If you work from 

MF home you need a 

dedicated office space … 

there’s only so long you can 

work from the kitchen table! 

However, with developers 

typically building smaller and 

smaller houses to maximise 

their profits, your new home 

is much more likely to have 

three bathrooms than a 

home office. This is because 

they build for the “average” 

customer and research tells 

them that most people want 

an en-suite bathroom as well 

as a family bathroom and 

separate wc. 

None of us are average, yet 

there’s a tendency to accept 

how houses are without 

giving it a great deal of 

thought. But they can be 

all sorts of things and you 

don’t have to live with the 

rooms that we take for 

granted - here’s a box, that’s 

the kitchen, here’s another 

box, that’s the living room. 

Houses can be so much more 

exciting, but you need to 

think about exactly how you 

live and what you want. 

The ideal solution is to build 

your own home. Even when 

you factor in the additional 

cost of buying a plot of land 

it’s a surprisingly affordable 

solution, and you’ll typically 

get much more outside space 

than if you buy a home on a 

new development. 

With people spending 

more time living 

and working at 

home how can we 

create a healthier 

environment? 

A lot of materials 

MF used in new build 

developments are not very 

good for our health. But if you 

are building your own home 

you are in control of all the 

materials used and you can 

make it as healthy as you want 

and use products – even down 

to the wiring – that don’t give 

off nasty chemicals and gases. 

It can be a little more 

expensive to use chipboard 

which is bonded with steam 

rather than toxic glue, or 

source a healthier paint, but in 

terms of the overall budget it’s 

a small extra cost. We can even 

reduce the amount of plastic 

used in a house build. 

As Murray mentioned 

LL earlier, it is not a 

permanent solution working 

from your kitchen table. It’s 

important for our mental 

continued on page 28 ▶ 


2 bi2020 winter winter bi2020 3

design 

Covid 

How 

is changing the way we 

design our offices 

wellbeing that we have a work life 

balance, especially when working from 

home. The most obvious solution for 

new build housing is to include an 

office space, however, this is not as easy 

to achieve in an existing building. We 

need to be more creative about how 

we incorporate a workstation into our 

homes. For example, within an open 

plan living area there may be a way 

to design flush floor-to-ceiling units, 

which would allow you to hide your 

workspace away behind closed doors 

when not working. This is only one of 

many creative solutions that could be 

considered for your property. 

Why use an architect? 

An architect will create a 

MF home that’s a perfect fit for 

your chosen site. They will factor in the 

geography – where are the best views, 

how does the sun move around the 

site, which rooms do you want to be 

in when you are getting the evening 

sun, what view do you want out of your 

kitchen window in the morning. 

An architect won’t just drop a standard 

house shape onto the site, they 

will design a home that’s tailored 

to the way you live. For example, I 

collaborated with a client who had 

an enormous book collection and the 

centrepiece of the finished house was 

over 100 metres of bespoke shelving. 

Our job is to listen to what 

LL our clients want and use our 

expertise to bring ideas to the table that 

they might not have considered. It’s a 

collaboration, a two-way conversation 

that you have with the client to turn 

their dreams into a concrete reality. 

Building a house can be a pretty 

daunting exercise, from developing a 

concept, knowing what consents are 

required, to coordinating works on site, 

budgeting and ensuring the quality 

of the workmanship. An architect can 

be by your side from concept through 

to completion, guiding you through 

the process with their knowledge and 

experience within the industry. 

When should you engage an 

architect? 

Once you’ve identified a 

MF plot you like, go and see an 

architect at that point because they 

can give you advice about the potential 

costs of developing the site. At Bell 

Ingram we can also help you find your 

dream location. In fact, a client recently 

asked me to carry out a site search for a 

suitably remote location for an off-grid 

bothy, I identified a site on Harris and 

compiled a feasibility study, considering 

issues such as access for construction, 

ground conditions, water supply etc. It 

is always money well spent to bring an 

architect in at a very early stage. n 

T 

he importance of traditional building 

skills and craftmanship cannot be 

underestimated in a country like 

Scotland with its rich social, cultural and 

architectural history. 

Described by the Scottish 

Government as “places of special 

architectural or historic interest, the 

character or appearance of which it is 

desirable to preserve or enhance”, we have 

over 600 conservation 

areas ranging 

from Lerwick in Shetland 

to Whithorn in Dumfries 

and Galloway. The 

conservation of these 

areas allows us to 

appreciate generations of 

technical craftsmanship 

and decorative 

architectural design. 

Despite the advancement 

in technology, 

development of 

innovative materials and 

evolving construction 

methods changing the 

way we design, construct 

and maintain our 

buildings, a vast quantity 

of our existing building 

stock is built using 

traditional construction 

Conservation -The importance 

of traditional building skills & 

craftsmanship 

Lauren Livingston 

BSc (Hons) ACIAT 

Architectural Technologist 

lauren.livingston 

@bellingram.co.uk 

methods and skilled craftsmanship. 

Not only are traditional buildings 

constructed in this way but they must also 

be maintained and treated with the same 

traditional construction methods and 

materials. 

To many, it may come as a surprise 

to learn that research has suggested 

that using modern methods of 

construction and innovative materials 

can actually have adverse effects when 

used to repair traditional buildings. In fact, 

by changing the aesthetic appearance 

and decorative character, we run the 

risk of potentially damaging the existing 

fabric of a building. 

This is concerning as it is becoming 

increasingly difficult to find skilled, 

traditional tradesmen and women. 

With maintenance and repairs to our 

traditional buildings accounting for a 

large percentage of today’s construction 

activity, it is crucial that we retain and 

develop our traditional skills to protect, 

preserve and repair our built heritage. 

Historic Environment Scotland 

(HES) and The Prince’s Foundation are two 

of a number of organisations that have 

recognised the wider need for training and 

apprenticeships to prevent precious skills 

being lost. 

oth organisations should be 

congratulated for steering a 

Brange of apprenticeship schemes 

and informative training courses, 

educating and training the next 

generation of skilled craftspeople. 

It is evident that we must have the 

knowledge and training widely available 

to prevent future generations losing vital 

skills and undertaking maintenance with 

contemporary construction methods 

which are highly likely to have adverse 

effects on our current building stock. 

Traditional building skills play a 

vital role in protecting our built 

heritage while investing in and supporting 

our economy. With increasing 

concerns about the condition of our 

existing building stock, which largely 

predates 1919, it is more important than 

ever that we have the skill, knowledge and 

understanding of our buildings. 

If you are looking to undertake any work 

to a traditional building, listed building 

or a building within the curtilage of a 

conservation area, please get in touch 

with one of our team and find out how we 

can help you with our expertise and key 

knowledge within the industry. n 

4 bi2020 winter winter bi2020 5 


design

design 

design 

ell Ingram’s building surveyors 

are passionate about all types of 

Bbuildings, painstakingly working 

to preserve and restore them for future 

generations and making them good for 

all types of modern-day use. 

The services we provide are two-fold, 

firstly; conservation and restoration of 

historic and listed buildings including 

full surveys and contract administration, 

and secondly: project management 

of new builds, refurbishment and 

conversions. 

Bell Ingram’s expert building surveyor 

Stephen Reilly highlights five 

common mistakes that can cause big 

problems for owners of traditional and 

listed properties … and how to avoid 

them. 

Five costly building 

mistakes and how 

to avoid them 

Pointing 

Lintels 

Render 

Pointing 

The best way to maintain stone walls 

is to ensure that any repairs are on a 

‘like for like’ basis. This principle will 

reduce the likelihood of defects such 

as the erosion of the stonework where a 

harder (probably cement based) pointing 

material has been used. 

Being a soft stone, the red sandstone will 

erode, however the harder pointing will 

have trapped water behind it and the 

freeze/thaw action in winter will have 

accelerated the rate of erosion. 

Given the extent of the surface erosion it 

would not be unusual for a new lime harl 

finish to be applied to the chimney stack 

rather than trying to repair the stonework. 

Windows 

When considering refurbishment 

of traditional vernacular buildings 

the replacement of the windows 

can be very tempting, particularly 

with ‘maintenance free’ uPVC units. 

This may seem like a good investment 

but how long will they last before the 

plastic yellows, the gearing breaks and the 

weatherproof gaskets fail? Most likely the 

day after your 10 year garauntee runs out! 

Stephen Reilly 

Building Surveyor 

stephen.reilly@ 


I have seen very few timber windows in 

functioning buildings that are so badly 

decayed that they need to be completely 

replaced. 

In this picture, the ground floor windows 

are replacement uPVC units while the first 

floor timber window (which may have been 

there for 100 years or more) only needs a 

lick of paint. 

Aesthetically the new uPVC units certainly 

don’t add to the character of the building. 

Lintels 

This photograph is of part of the 

interior of a Category A listed 

building (constructed in the 

early 17th Century) which was 

badly affected by fungal decay due to the 

failure of the roof covering which allowed 

water ingress. The building is of stone 

construction with a lime-based mortar. 

There are several issues shown which are 

not in keeping with good conservation 

practice and would not normally be 

Windows 

acceptable for HLF/HES grant aid. 

● The original timber safe lintel(s) has 

been replaced with a concrete unit. 

The original lintel would still be in 

place if not for the water ingress, so 

why was a replacement timber lintel 

(preferably oak) not fitted? Recent 

experience would suggest that an 

application for listed building consent 

would be required to use concrete and 

it’s questionable whether it would be 

granted. 

● The lintel has been bedded in cementbased 

mortar rather than a lime-based 

mortar, inexcusable! 

● The window appears to be a completely 

new unit. Unless the previous 

window was beyond repair then it is 

questionable whether the principal of 

‘minimum intervention’ was applied. If 

the previous window was original then 

it may have been glazed with historic 

glass which if it was intact could have 

been salvaged for reuse. 

● The use of a modern foam filler (puff 

candy coloured material) around the 

window frame also inexcusable. 

Of course when you have timber lintels 

then you should make sure that they are 

protected from the elements, a coat of 

paint is better than nothing. I can only 

hope that it was not a tradesman that 

created this window slapping through 

the brickwork of the building in the 

photograph opposite. 

winter bi2019 3 

32 bi2020 autumn ❘ winter autumn ❘ ❘ winter bi2020 33 

Bats 

Rural buildings are a favourite 

roosting spot for bats which 

are a legally protected species 

across the UK. This means you 

may be committing a criminal offence 

if you: intentionally or recklessly disturb 

a bat in its roost; damage or destroy 

a place used by bats for breeding or 

resting even if bats are not occupying 

the roost at the time; intentionally or 

recklessly obstruct access to a bat roost. 

A simple check if droppings are found 

could confirm the presence of bats in 

advance. Something worth knowing 

when you consider that breaking the law 

can result potentially in six months in 

prison or an unlimited fine. 

Render 

Bats 

In the UK external silicone 

renders and finishes have 

increased in popularity over 

the last 30 years or so. They 

claim to provide a durable, weatherproof, 

breathable, natural finish, the modern 

equivalent of a lime harl. Renders were 

originally used to cover poor quality 

work, however modern silicone (and 

acrylic) renders are used to create 

architectural features with sleek lines 

and stunning finishes, which they do. 

These renders can, however, contain 

organic ingredients which under the 

right environmental conditions can 

support the growth of fungi, mould and 

moss resulting in discoloration of the 

render finish such as that evident on the 

building pictured (dark streaks between 

the ground and first floor 

windows). 

Unfortunately washing the render with 

a fungicidal wash did not remove the 

organic growths nor the staining and the 

render had to be coated with a specialist 

paint system to reinstate the desired 

finish. The cost of this work will not have 

been anticipated when the building was 

constructed 14 years ago. n

design 

design 

Are you dreaming 

of building your 

perfect home? 

New trends are emerging in the housing market 

as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

A 

s the UK slowly eases out of lockdown new 

trends are emerging in the housing 

market. 

With more people choosing to work remotely, 

demand for country and coastal properties is 

likely to increase, particularly well-connected 

village locations for people splitting their working 

week between city office and home office. 

Gardens have always been popular but are now 

a “must-have” feature, particularly for those who 

struggled through the pandemic with little or no 

outside space. 

Separation from family continues to be one of the 

most painful parts of lockdown and we predict a 

surge of interest in homes with “granny annexes” 

which are big enough to house several generations. 

Finding a new home which ticks all the right 

boxes is never easy, which is why designing and 

building your own home from scratch can be 

an exciting and cost-effective alternative that 

ensures you get all the features you want without 

compromise. 

B 

ell Ingram currently has a number of plots for 

sale in a range of stunning locations and our 

in-house architects and planning consultants 

are ready and waiting to discuss turning your 

dream home vision into reality. 

Developed by Bell Ingram Design to meet a 

gap in the Scottish housing market, our Ecosse 

Living house range offers clients the opportunity 

to purchase beautiful, high quality, ‘off the peg’ 

architect designed homes which can be tailored 

at minimum cost to suit a particular site and 

individual requirements. 

The service includes a fully flexible ‘stage by stage’ 

appointment process for Planning, Building 

Warrant, Tender and Construction. 

Ecosse Living houses are designed with the 

Scottish climate in mind and include details 

such as a large lobby for storing coats and boots 

and covered south facing external decks to enjoy 

the sunshine, while remaining protected from 

prevailing winds. 

Plots for sale 

Glenegedale Moor Croft 1 

Isle of Islay, Argyle and Bute, PA42 7DD 

● Guide price £150,00. 

A rare chance to acquire a substantial 

croft set on the picturesque Isle of 

Islay. The croft extends to 84.28 Acres 

benefitting from planning permission 

in principle and offers buyers an 

exciting lifestyle opportunity. 

Contact Andrew Fuller, Oban, 

01631 567 731 

Land East of Ar Dachaidh 

Benderloch, Argyll and Bute, 

PA37 1QS 

● Offers in the region of £95,000. 

A wonderful building plot on the fringe 

of the coastal village of Benderloch, 

near Oban, extending to approximately 

0.39 Acres and benefitting from 

planning permission in principle. 

Contact Andrew Fuller, Oban, 

01631 567 731 

Plot to East of Kyleakin 

Lugton, Kilmarnock, KA3 4EE 

● Offers over £100,000. 

An excellent opportunity to acquire a 

large plot with planning permission 

and building warrant for a detached 

single storey 4 bedroom house. 

Offering stunning views over open 

countryside and minutes away from all 

local amenities. 

Contact Lauren Howie, Ayr, 

01292 886 544 

Plot at Little Garve 

NW Of Glentawik, Little Garve, Ross- 

Shire, IV23 2PU 

● Offers over £95,000. 

Extensive level building plot situated in 

an area of natural beauty, Little Garve, 

with panoramic mountain view. 

Contact Joanne Stennet, Highland, 

01463 717 799 

For more 

information on 

our Design service, 

from concept to 

completion, call 

Murray Fleming on 

07876 667827. 

Bell Ingram Design: Not 

your average architects 

ell Ingram Design is a modern 

architectural practice dedicated to 

Bthe delivery of carefully crafted and 

innovative buildings to meet our clients’ 

aspirations and requirements. 

With our understanding of design in 

the rural environment, we specialise 

in developing innovative and practical 

solutions to produce sensitive and attractive 

places and spaces. 

Working on a diverse range of builds, from 

bespoke new-build house designs and 

renovations to larger scale public, residential, 

commercial, tourism and conservation 

projects, our highly experienced team 

offers a personal service, ranging from initial 

concept, through site searches, funding 

challenges, statutory consents to full design 

and detailed construction information. 

Meet the team 

Our project experience spans residential 

work, from domestic extensions to farm 

building conversions and larger scale 

housing sites. We have experience of 

working in protected natural habitats and 

with listed buildings in conservation areas, 

achieving planning and listed building 

consents for sensitive projects, and creating 

beautiful contemporary buildings creatively 

positioned to blend seamlessly with the 

landscape. 

t Bell Ingram Design our goal is to 

listen carefully and then interpret the 

Abrief creatively, developing the design 

in partnership with the client to deliver both 

on time and on budget. 

Working closely with colleagues from Bell 

Ingram’s other specialist teams to bring 

projects to life, we can offer a one stop 

shop facility where we have access to 

planning, surveying, tourism and renewables 

consultants, providing a full-service solution. 

Our ability to work seamlessly between 

advice, design, plan and build is a big 

advantage, particularly in rural settings. 

Bell Ingram Design provides the 

following architectural services: 

• Full Architectural Services 

• Feasibility Studies 

• Conceptual Design 

• 3-D Illustrative Images 

• Design for Detailed 

Planning Approval 

• Building Surveying 

• Tourism and Renewables 

Advice 

➤ More details at www.bellingram.com/ 

design 

winter bi2019 3 


Iain Cram 

Iain is the partner in charge 

of Bell Ingram Design. His 

principal role is working with 

clients on projects from the 

initial concept, through site 

searches, 

funding 

challenges 

and 

statutory 

consents. 

He is an 

experienced 

and talented architect with 

a long track record, working 

on a diverse range of projects 

from small scale residential 

through to large public, 

commercial, residential and 

tourism builds. 

Murray Fleming 

As senior architect in Bell 

Ingram’s Beauly office, 

Murray is 

responsible 

for the 

company’s 

architectural 

services 

covering the 

Highlands 

and Islands. Murray has 

extensive design and project 

management experience 

in a wide range of building 

sectors, including residential, 

commercial, public and 

healthcare. 

Lauren Livingston 

Lauren joined Bell Ingram 

Design in 2017 with a First Class 

BSc (Hons) in Architectural 

Technology. Following her 

success of winning the student 

‘CIAT Aspiration Award’, she has 

continued to 

be an active 

member of 

CIAT as an 

Associate 

Member. 

Lauren 

provides 

assistance to our Principal 

Architects and Planner on 

projects throughout the 

country. 

Scott Ramsay 

Senior Architectural 

Technician Scott provides 

support to the project 

architects and building 

surveyors in the preparation 

of drawings and specifications 

for the submission of 

Planning Applications and 

Building Warrants, through to 

tender and 

construction 

stages. Scott 

has been 

trained in 

the use 

of Revit 

Architecture, 

allowing him to create realtime 

3D 

models. 

Stephen Reilly 

With 30 

years’ 

experience 

as a building 

surveyor 

Stephen is 

responsible 

for 

delivering the company’s 

building surveying services. 

He has extensive experience 

in planned maintenance 

management, building 

inspections, condition surveys 

and dilapidations. 

Catherine Newton 

Catherine has worked for 

Bell Ingram as a Planning 

Consultant since 2012. Her 

planning career over the past 

30 years has included public 

and private 

sector, 

government 

agency and 

charity roles. 

She brings 

to every 

new project 

an extensive knowledge and 

understanding of planning 

legislation, as well as an insight 

into the requirements of the 

decision makers and statutory 

consultees. 

Susan Burness 

Susan is a Conservation 

Accredited Architect with 

over 25 years of experience 

in the construction industry. 

She is an accomplished 

architect and project 

manager, capable of bringing 

together 

the client, 

consultant 

team and 

contractors 

to deliver a 

project of 

the quality 

expected by all involved. Her 

experience of working in the 

field of conservation includes 

managing the complex 

demands of multiple 

occupant buildings through 

the THI/CARS grant 

schemes.

www.bellingram.co.uk 

Follow Bell Ingram on: 

Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, 

Linkedin 

Durn 

Isla Road 

Perth, PH2 7HF 

Tel: 01738 621 121 

Email: enquiries@bellingram.co.uk 

Aberdeen 

2 Albert Street, 

Aberdeen, AB25 1XQ 

Tel: 01224 621 300 

Email: aberdeen@bellingram.co.uk 

Highland 

Aberdeen 

Forfar 

Oban Perth 

Head Offce: Perth, Isla Road 

Ambleside 

Low Nook, University of Cumbria 

Rydal Road, Ambleside 

Cumbria, LA22 9BB 

Tel: 01539 896 101 

Email: ambleside@bellingram.co.uk 

Ayr 

33 Sandgate, 

Ayr, KA7 1BG 

Tel: 01292 886 544 

Email: ayr@bellingram.co.uk 

Forfar 

Manor Street 

Forfar, DD8 1EX 

Tel: 01307 462 516 

Email: forfar@bellingram.co.uk 

Ayr 

Morpeth 

Ambleside 

Thirsk 

Northwich 

Highland 

5 High Street 

Beauly, IV4 7BS 

Tel: 01463 717799 

Email: highland@bellingram.co.uk 

Morpeth 

Ellington Business Centre 

Lynemouth Road, Ellington 

Morpeth, NE61 5HB 

Tel: 01670 862 235 

Email: morpeth@bellingram.co.uk 

Northwich 

Blakemere Village, Chester Road 

Sandiway, Northwich 

Cheshire, CW8 2EB 

Tel: 01606 523 030 

Email: northwich@bellingram.co.uk 

Oban 

5 Albany Street 

Oban, PA34 4AR 

Tel: 01631 566122 

Email: oban@bellingram.co.uk 

Thirsk 

Thirsk Rural Business Centre 

Blakey Lane, Thirsk 

North Yorkshire, YO7 3AB 

Tel: 01845 522 095 

Email: thirsk@bellingram.co.uk 

236 bi2019 bi2020 winter autumn ❘ winter

bi3 Autumn/Winter 2020

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