NEW research has revealed that home improvement planning applications decreased across Scotland last year, and is now the least likely part of Britain for homeowners to improve.
The ‘Home Improvers of Great Britain 2019’ report, compiled by construction industry analysts Barbour ABI, found that for every 100 private homes, Scotland had on average just 1.1 home improvement applications in 2018. The British average was 2.0.
A total of 21,500 applications were submitted in Scotland for home improvement. East Lothian led the way north of the border, with 2.1 applications per 100 private homes. The largest growth was in the Western Isles, with applications increasing 9%.
Barbour ABI said that across much of Britain, home improvement activity tends to be more prevalent in less urban areas with Scotland no exception, as Glasgow and Renfrewshire sit at the bottom of the Scottish home improvement table.
