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STV News
6 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Orkney house prices see highest rise in Scotland since pandemic
Orkney house prices face highest rise in Scotland since the pandemic skyrocketing by over 60% The average price of a house in Orkney has risen by over 60% in the last five years – the steepest rise of any council area in Scotland. According to figures from the UK House Price Index, Orkney's house prices have outpaced the Scottish average nearly three times. The rise seen in Orkney is quite a bit higher than the council areas with the next highest rises: Midlothian at 48% and City of Glasgow at 38%. According to analysis from the Office of National Statistics, Orkney's house prices dipped during the first year of the pandemic. But when the rises began, they were significant. In April, May, June and July 2021, property prices rose by over 30% each month. A wave of similarly steep hikes was seen in April, May, June and July 2022 as house prices rose by more than 20% in each of those months. The first reductions in house prices since December 2020 came in April 2023 and continued month-on-month until January 2024. However, these reductions were all under 11%, with prices only reducing by more than 10% twice during that period. Prices began to rise again in April last year, although at a far more modest rate that before. They steadily increased up to a peak of 14.3% rise in January this year. That escalation curbed slightly with a further 11.7% rise in February and 11.8% in March. So where does this leave Orkney house prices since the beginning of lockdown up to this year? At the beginning of lockdown, March 2020, the average house price in Orkney was £131,476. As of March this year, five years later, the provisional average house price as of March 2025 was £215,580. This is a 63.9% rise. Drawing a comparison with the average house prices in Scotland over the same time period, in March 2020 the average house price was £151,856. In March 2025, it was £186,000. That's a rise of 22.4% What about Orkney's islands cousins? Over the same five year period, Shetland saw a 26.1% rise in prices – not far off the Scottish average. Meanwhile, the Na h-Eileanan Siar council area saw a 36.2% rise. While Orkney may have seen the highest percentage rise, it doesn't have the highest average house price. That title belongs to East Renfrewshire, with an average house price of £295,545. Shetland also has a higher average price than Orkney despite it's more modest rise, at £229,663. It's worth bearing in mind that any statistics that come from Orkney can show wild swings. This is because it produces a lower data set than other larger areas. In this case, a small number of very expensive homes being sold could heavily affect Orkney's average house price. However, long term trends provide a more reliable picture. News of high house prices, while unpleasant, will come as no shock to many Orcadians trying to buy. Karen Allan is the founder and owner of K Allan Properties, a local estate agent. She began selling houses just before lockdown got under way. Before that she and her husband had been developing properties for years. As such, she has developed a good understanding of the local market over the last 20 years. 'Orkney has a strong market. 'A lot of stock is circulating between all the agents on the island consistently all year round. 'Pre-pandemic was a lot cheaper, there is no two ways about that. 'The prices have shot up to an unbelievable level.' Asked why this is, she said: 'During Covid, our rural lifestyle was extremely desirable. 'This resulted in properties selling at inflated prices. 'This naturally led to inflation on market data and home report valuations rose substantially as a result. 'Prices went a bit too high, and we started to see properties reduce across to the island. 'Stock took a bit longer to sell at certain stages, especially when the mortgage rates went very high. 'There was no choice but to stabilise this with a sensible starting point when going to market.' Asked about the effect this has all had on local buyers she said it has been a tough pill to swallow for them. 'It took a long time, but I feel the locals have sadly had no option but to accept the prices and the offers over price tags. 'I feel harsh saying this. It wasn't accepted easily in the beginning of the housing boom. 'It was hard at first as we were in an unprecedented market after lockdown. 'Locals were sadly being deflated with multiple rejections. It really was a harsh time for them. Despite this, she said she is continues to advise people on how to make a move. 'It's not impossible and my 19-year-old son making it onto the property ladder recently is testament to that. 'Ultimately, financial planning is key to achieving this and the bigger a deposit you have, the better chance you'll have of making it happen.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Press and Journal
15-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Blood bank visits Orkney for first time in 15 years, and donors couldn't wait to help save a life
First-time donors packed the Blood Bank's first visit to Orkney in more than 15 years. Across three days this week, staff from the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service (SNBTS) have been running donor sessions in Kirkwall's Pickaquoy Centre. These are being held as pilot programme which will be reviewed in the coming months. If all goes well, Orkney could be included in future annual collection programmes across the north after being left off for more than a decade. When the visit had been announced, the Blood Bank hoped to see 75 donors per day. Dr Sylvia Armstrong-Fisher, the organisation's Head of Territory Northern Arch, explained they'd already exceeded that with 157 attendees in the first two days. They'd been expecting a further 88 throughout Wednesday's session. With last blood donor session in Orkney being in 2009, perhaps it should not be a surprise that just over 53% of the locals they've seen are new donors. While this means extra time on admin for the team, Dr Armstrong-Fisher said getting new donors is important for the service as it means maintaining a much-needed healthy stock of people willing to donate. Dr Armstrong-Fisher said: 'It's been very busy but we've had a really tremendous response from the people of Orkney. 'We've had an enormous turnout from new donors. 'If everything's going smoothly, it would take one hour for someone to give blood. 'But we have so many first-time donors that they're not used to the process and there's a lot of questions to go through. 'We also have to make sure every donor has the very best experience.' So why haven't there been session in Orkney for so long? Dr Armstrong-Fisher said: 'In 2009, due to challenges with transporting blood back from Orkney, and other issues such as staffing, we undertook a full review of Orkney collection. 'As a result of this review, which identified significant challenges with logistics and staffing, Orkney collection was ceased at that time. 'We've been pleased to return as part of a pilot. 'We've asking both donors and staff for feedback on their experience. She also explained that the logistics of carrying out the donation session on an island can 'make things a little twitchy.' Each day, a vehicle holding the blood in controlled storage had to leave the Pickaquoy centre at about 3.15pm to catch the afternoon ferry from Stromness to the Scottish mainland. It then makes its way down to wherever a team from Inverness are working that day, which has meant a trip to Elgin some days. This has to be done within 24 hours, so any delay to the ferries could knock back the order of things. After that, the blood then travels further to Edinburgh and the Jack Copland Centre. Orcadians have certainly stepped up to use the visiting service with all slots completely filled within four days of being announced. Speaking to two of the donors, they said they wanted to do what they can. Waiting give blood, Stephanie Scollie, from Kirkwal,l said: 'It's something I've always wanted to do just to see if I can help somebody. 'My sister had a blood transfusion during her pregnancy. So it was an easy decision to come along and do it. Tanya Digby was in the process of giving blood. She said: 'I've done it because I would hate to think of an operation being cancelled for anyone because there's a shortage of blood. 'It's the one thing I can do to help.'
Press and Journal
24-04-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
Delayed electric hydrofoil boat due in Orkney within weeks after months of setbacks
An electric hydrofoil passenger boat is due to begin testing in Orkney next month – after original arrival dates of January and March came and went. The small vessel, along with another 50-passenger boat, is due to be trialled in the isles after a successful £15.5 million bid was made for UK Government funding. That bid came from Orkney Islands Council-run Orkney Ferries Ltd, Belfast-based Artemis Technologies, and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). Dubbed the 'Electric Orkney project', the aim is to boost the council's decarbonisation efforts. The smaller of the two vessels is due to arrive ahead of the larger one. Before it can start ferrying passengers between Rousay, Egilsay, Wyre, Shapinsay, and the Orkney mainland though it needs to undergo sea trials. Following the nearly four-month delay, a team from Orkney will be working with Artemis Technologies in Belfast next week. A spokeswoman for the company said the visit will include sea trials and 'final acceptance' of the vessel. It is then expected the boat will arrive in Orkney 'within a matter of weeks.' The spokesman said: 'With the nature of this type of project and the groundbreaking technology involved, small, not uncommon delays have occurred as efforts to ensure all processes are correct and complete at each milestone are prioritised.' The project presents an exciting, speedy, and cutting-edge way for Orcadians to get around the islands. The hydrofoil technology means the hulls of the vessels will be lifted completely out of the water when they sail. The hope is the new vessel could bolster the existing council-run ferry service permanently. However, this will depend on how much they are used during the three-year trial The council has been asking communities on the islands how they might use the additional service. The Rousay, Egilsay, and Wyre Development Trust is a development organisation run by the islanders for the benefit of the 260 people who live on the three islands. Its chairman, Peter Roebuck, believes the communities will welcome the hydrofoil vessels. However, there are still questions and concerns about how they will operate. And the hydrofoil project must also not distract from the need to replace Orkney's aging fleet of roll-on, roll-off ferries (Ro-Ro), he says. Mr Roebuck said: 'Our communities welcome the opportunity to stay at the cutting edge of renewable technology in trialling these boats. 'There is a combination of enthusiasm for the potential to improve connectivity between our islands and Mainland Orkney, together with some trepidation about their reliability. 'Also, there is real concern about the impact these boats may have on further extending the timetable for replacing our outdated and aging Ro-Ro ferry. 'The continuing five-year delay on phase two of the Orkney Harbours Masterplan continues to concern our communities about how and when our Ro-Ro will be replaced. 'So far, we have seen no sign of how passengers will locally embark or disembark these electric hydrofoils at all stages of the tide, nor how the boat will be recharged at terminals outside Kirkwall. 'We look forward to hearing more about when the trial will start, having seen no evidence of the necessary infrastructure being in place for them to start in the coming months.'
