Perthshire park life is affordable

Richmond Wight bought over the park, which is near Dollar, last year saying Glendevon had been “failing” at the time it took charge, but its transformation programme has started to pay dividends.

Two types of ownership deals are offered here, buyers can purchase a lodge as a holiday home or, if they are over 50, as a permanent home.

Danny McInnes, National Sales Director, says that many of the sales have been to homeowners wanting to downsize in their later years. “A lot of our buyers were on endowment only mortgages and coming to the end of their working lives wanted an affordable place to live.” Homes here start at £50,000 for a studio up to £170,000 for two or three bedrooms.

For those that purchase the properties as a holiday home the company run a letting scheme which allows owners to use the properties for 20 weeks and let them for 32, giving guaranteed returns of eight per cent for the first three years, after which it can be renewed.

Ten new residents have moved into the park this year and the lodges are selling at a rate of two each month.

Planning permission has now been granted for the development of a further 78 plots at Glendevon, which will more than double the site’s current capacity.

Glendevon is RWE’s third property in Scotland — it also has parks in Lossiemouth and Forres — and its total investment to date is around £4.5m.

For buyers, the picturesque park, which is open all year round, offers luxury lodges which can be designed to order - many include decking and hot tubs - but owners also get the full bespoke service where they can choose fabrics and kitchen units.

McInnes says: “We are absolutely delighted that sales have been going so well. It’s little wonder when you consider this park’s fantastic location with a beautiful setting and close proximity to the Central Belt road network. The charming market towns of Dollar and Auchterarder are easily accessible and you can enjoy diverse leisure pursuits here from hill walking and rambling to fishing and golfing.”

Lodges include integrated kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, ovens and wine chillers, open plan living, dining and kitchen areas, patio doors to the outside decking, separate showers and baths and attractive free standing furniture.

The company says the quality lodges are as substantial as new build houses and come complete with a five year manufacturer’s guarantee. McInnes says: “They are better insulated than most new homes so utility bills are also a saving. The average gas bill here is £65 a quarter so the savings really do allow people to have more money to enjoy life.”

Sizes range from 40 feet by 15, up to 50 feet by 22 but once the size is chosen buyers can more or less design their own homes to suit, deciding on room layout for instance.

For further details on Glendevon Country Park call Richmond Wight on 01343 812000.