Home of the week: Victorian villa with mod cons minutes from Edinburgh

Much has changed over the past five months, including the way we buy residential property.

The Glebe Street property is C-listed

As a result of the coronavirus lockdown experience, today’s homebuyer’s “must have” list now tends to feature superfast broadband, separate office space and access to a garden, as well as the desire for an open-plan diner/kitchen.

Location has also changed. Once upon a time – way back in February – proximity to public transport and length of commute would be a core consideration. Now many families are planning a future where working from the office might only be for two days per week.

And for others who have to physically be in the workplace, the prospect of quieter roads and thus shorter commutes means that living further from the office is a possibility.

Add this new requirement for more space to the reduced need to be close to the office and the market is growing for homes a little further from the city centre, provided connectivity is still strong.

“We are seeing a growing number of buyers who are looking at different kinds of properties than they might have before Covid-19,” says Jamie McNeill from Savills residential team.

“Office and garden space have become increasingly important for many. There’s also a realisation that families will have more flexibility around location and, by widening their search parameters, are seeing how much more they can get for their money by moving slightly further out of the city.”

Last week, US internet giant Google said it would keep staff at home until July 2021. It is unlikely to be the last firm to do so.

And swapping a crowded journey for a 15-second commute to a home office has never been so appealing. A recent Ipsos Mori survey found that 45 per cent or people would be keen to make a permanent change to their working pattern.

Some experts are even predicting that companies will shift from crowded city centres to a network of smaller satellite offices to accommodate suburban workers.

One such property which fulfills this new brief is our Home of the Week, Glebe Lodge in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

For the price of an Edinburgh New Town flat, buyers can trade up to a C-listed three-storey Victorian stone build house, with south-facing garden, space for two offices and fast wifi. The home features a newly-converted loft space with two bedrooms, bathroom, office and accessible storage space.

A 40sq m kitchen-dining room, with wood-burning stove, will appeal to families searching for open-plan living. It has direct access to the private garden to the rear.

The large luxurious family bathroom has a walk-in shower and designer bath looking out onto the greenery of the garden beyond.

The main living room is on the first floor with views across the treetops. It also features a wood-burning stove set within an original Victorian fireplace – you would be forgiven if you believed you were in a rural country house.

Working shutters, up-to-date combi-boiler, high-spec loft insulation and multi-fuel stoves mean that you can experience Victorian charm but with 21st century heat conservation.

The Glebe Street property is on the north side of Dalkeith offering a 25-minute commute to Edinburgh city centre and just ten minutes to the city’s Royal Infirmary and BioQuarter. Dalkeith also offers easy access to the city bypass, East Lothian and the Borders.

The house is just a short walk from the town’s high street, while the popular Dalkeith Country Park, with extensive walks and family facilities, is only five minutes away.

Current owner Clare Smith says: 
“I start my day working in the kitchen, then I walk the dog in the country park mid-morning, and then I move to the office. I like the change of scene.

“We’ve all heard stories of couples forced to work at either end of the kitchen table.

“This means competition for bandwidth and it’s often difficult to have video calls at the same time.

“My husband and I have both been working from home... you need to have private space.”

New house builders are already modifying their designs and floor plans to accommodate multi-functional living.

But for those looking for a period home with many of these features, this Dalkeith property could be just the answer.