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For the MacKenzie family, lockdown kick-started an unexpected house move to their forever home in Grandhome.

Erin MacKenzie, her partner Billy, two young children and dog lived in Bridge of Don and were aware of the new community of Grandhome, located on the outskirts of the area, but hadn’t considered a move. It wasn’t until lockdown last year that they recognised the need for more space for the increasing amount of time being spent at home. After browsing photographs of the AJC showhome in the community later that spring, Erin was blown away by the property and lifestyle opportunities available in the community and convinced Billy to take a look.

Speaking of the move, Erin said: “We weren’t really considering a move, but with the lockdown earlier in the year we were spending so much time at home and with two young children and a dog in a two bedroom property, we knew we needed much more space.

“Most of our family and friends live in Bridge of Don, and the children’s nursery is there, so it was important to us that we stayed local. As soon as we saw the AJC home and got a feel for Grandhome, we didn’t consider moving anywhere else. Grandhome provides the extra family living space for us, while still being close to all of our important facilities.

“After visiting the showhome, we had narrowed down our choice to two plots and opted for the Glenfinnan housetype which already had flooring and fixtures installed, but many other aspects such as tiles and worktops could be chosen based on our preferences. It was really exciting to have a really good quality new build home but also a blank canvas that we could make our own.

“Our two kids were also really excited about the move and couldn’t wait to visit their new home. Their bedrooms were the first rooms to be decorated, going with the themes of their favourite films, including Toy Story and Frozen.

“As a young family, it made sense for us to move at this point in our life and Grandhome was the place for us – we knew we would benefit from the vast amount of green space and parks, the friendly community and close proximity to town and country. There are lots of younger kids living around us, and a friend of mine recently moved in next door whose children are of similar age.

“Despite lockdowns, we’ve already had a great experience living at Grandhome. There’s plenty of green space and the Davidston Square pavilion really helps bring it all together. The Christmas light display at the pavilion really helped bring a festive feel to the community, and we’re looking forward to the day when community events can be held there.

“Last year was a particularly difficult time but the process of buying a new home couldn’t have been more straight-forward, thanks to the AJC team. From providing us with initial information when we were thinking of buying the home, to easing worries when we were moving, AJC made everything really easy. We had a mortgage advisor, Alaina from McLean Financial Services, who spoke directly with the housebuilder, and both were really accommodating.

“Lockdown introduced some hurdles in the process, but from first seeing the property on Facebook in May, we went on to reserve the home in July and put our house up for sale right away. We moved into the new home in November and have loved every minute since.”

Grandhome is pleased to announce Malcolm Allan Housebuilders as a new homebuilding partner at their pioneering community in Aberdeen’s Bridge of Don. The renowned Aberdeenshire-based firm will build approximately 130 new build homes offering a variety of property types – from flats to detached homes – to first-time buyers, families, downsizers, couples and city professionals.

Malcolm Allan Housebuilders joins CALA Homes, Dandara and AJC as homebuilders for the first neighbourhood at Grandhome which is already a thriving community offering a range of different house types, from one-bedroom flats to five-bedroom detached homes.

Aiming to deliver unprecedented standards in the region for quality and place-making, Grandhome is being built according to a masterplan designed by an internationally recognised team of architects in consultation with the local community, and with housebuilders respecting design principles to ensure consistent and high standards throughout.

Bruce Smith, Chairman of the Grandhome Trust, said: “After more than a decade of planning, it has been very rewarding over the last few years to watch Grandhome become a thriving community with around 200 new homes. As we continue to grow, we’re thrilled to welcome Malcolm Allan Housebuilders as a new homebuilding partner.

They are a highly reputable family-owned company with a long and strong local history having been building new homes in Aberdeenshire for more than 50 years. Their traditions and values will complement Grandhome and ensure that it continues to be a place that people are proud to call home.”  

Bruce Allan, Director of Malcolm Allan Housebuilders, commented: “We are delighted to be working with Grandhome who share our commitment to exceptional quality, and to providing the most desirable homes in the North-East. This is a really exciting new community which is delivering on its long-held ambition to build an exemplary place with high levels of design, huge amounts of green space and a real sense of community. At Malcolm Allan, we appreciate the long-term view as we’ve been building quality homes for over 50 years. The key to our success has been ensuring consistently high standards across our house developments and focusing on customer satisfaction, and we’re proud to be the only Aberdeenshire-based five-star rated housebuilder.”

Malcolm Allan Housebuilders is expected to be on site in Autumn 2021. In the meantime, please visit https://www.mahousebuilders.com/ for more information.

The pitter patter of tiny feet is being heard in Aberdeen’s newest community as Grandhome opens its first nursery school.

Banana Moon, located at the edge of the new development in Bridge of Don, offers children aged from three months to five years day care Monday to Friday including education, activities and meals. The small nursery can accommodate up to 44 children and is part of an award-winning franchise of day nurseries across the UK, including two others in Aberdeen.

Terry Wiseman, Nursery Manager at Banana Moon in Bridge of Don, commented: “Banana Moon has always been about offering early years’ childcare that is excellent quality, flexible, friendly and stress free for families – something that many parents and guardians in Aberdeen have called for. Part of a further two outlets in Aberdeen, we are so pleased to now offer that support to families in the Bridge of Don area.

“The nursery is a safe place for children to learn, play and interact whilst being cared for by highly trained teachers and professionals in a loving and secure environment. We even have a resident ‘therapet’ nursery dog called Hilda that children love to look after, play with and take for walks.”

Reacting to the COVID-19 pandemic, the nursery school has introduced enhanced health and safety measures including revised drop-off and collection protocols to allow for physical distancing between parents and guardians and increased hygiene measures.

With high-spec fittings and large windows, the building is light and airy with an in-house kitchen producing freshly cooked, nutritious food everyday as well as a safe outdoor playground area. The nursery is also open on public holidays to further support working parents.

Bruce Smith, trustee of the Grandhome Trust which is leading the build of the new development, added: “Grandhome is quickly becoming a bustling community within Bridge of Don. We are seeing more and more families joining the community, so it made complete sense to have a nursery to cater for children of parents that live in the development as well as those in neighbouring areas.

“We are very excited to see Banana Moon open and are so pleased to welcome children and their parents.”

To find out more about Banana Moon, visit www.bananamoon-aberdeen.co.uk. For more information about Grandhome, visit https://grandhome.co.uk/.

The new community of Grandhome has welcomed the opening of Davidston Square, a new, multi-use outdoor space located in the heart of its first neighbourhood. Designed by award-winning Scottish architects Reiach and Hall, the space will be available for residents to enjoy all year-round and in time will be used to host a series of community events.

The highlight and main feature of the square is Davidston Pavilion, an open geometric building which is contemporary in design and references both Northern and classical Greek architecture. The pavilion is surrounded by landscaped space including open lawn, long grass and a variety of trees, and is intended to be used by residents throughout the year both as an outdoor seating area and meeting point, and as a community events space.

Davidston Pavilion houses a cairn mounted with a millstone which was used centuries ago to grind corn on the land where the Grandhome community now resides, connecting the area to the land’s farming heritage. It is also home to a distinctive pin oak tree which was planted in memory of David Paton (1935-2019) who founded the Grandhome community and whose vision was to create a truly exemplary community in terms of both building and living standards.

On behalf of the Paton family, William Paton said “We are delighted with Davidston Square and the work of the team at Reiach & Hall. People are recognising the benefits of connecting to nature and being outdoors now more than ever, and we hope that current and new Grandhome residents, as well as the wider Bridge of Don community, will enjoy using this attractive space both on a day-to-day basis, as well as for community events in future.”

Neil Gillespie of Reiach and Hall Architects said ‘The construction of Grandhome to the north of the River Don sees a new community gradually begin to settle upon land that has been cultivated for many generations. Davidson Square is a generous new public space that serves these new residential clusters with a simple space of open lawn and trees, bounded by field stone dykes and to its southern boundary, a pavilion structure. The square and pavilion will offer new residents and visitor alike the opportunity to gather and converse or simply a place to pause and reflect.’

Property buyers and homeowners in Aberdeen now consider green space and private gardens to be a more important consideration than ever before, as a result of lockdown. Grandhome has been designed following the principles of new urbanism and will accommodate more than double the amount of green space required by Aberdeen planning standards. It will be connected by a network of accessible public green spaces including parks, play spaces and playing fields, as well as natural ‘wild’ areas.

Once complete, the first neighbourhood in Grandhome will have approximately 600 homes and will be situated close to parks and community spaces. The long-term aim is to build 7,000 new homes which will be within walking distance of a range of amenities. All day-to-day needs will be met within a 5-7-minute walk and the connected street pattern means pedestrians and cyclists will be able to freely move without taking circuitous routes.

Details of upcoming events will be shared on our website and Facebook page in due course.

Now the weather is brighter and most of us are at home, many households are taking a daily walk around their local area to get some fresh air and exercise. Walking in the same area, you may feel like you see the same things, but there’s lots of things to keep an eye out for. Why not do a Scavenger Hunt on your walk to take in your surroundings and notice the little things?

Just print off the attached list and tick as you go – we’ve put some bonus finds at the end too.

Award-winning AJC Homes has released new properties in the city of Aberdeen, offering prospective buyers a range of high quality two and three bedroom homes to choose from at Grandhome. 

Families, downsizers, couples and city professionals can select from the Aboyne-based housebuilder’s unique detached, semi-detached and terraced homes, as well as apartments and bungalows, at the new pioneering community located on the outskirts of Bridge of Don.

Laura Webster, Sales and Marketing Manager at AJC Homes, commented: “Traditionally we are known for building properties in the countryside and small towns however we are very excited to launch our new city homes at Grandhome. 

“With a range of house types to choose from and the benefits of the emerging Grandhome community, including parks and community space as well as shops, cafes and schools in the future, this is an opportunity to settle in a new build home with all of the benefits and atmosphere of village life.

This is also a great chance to purchase a high quality new build home from a local Aberdeen housebuilder that is proud to include a high level of specification, including traditional copper piped plumbing and staircases handmade in our own joinery workshop.”

AJC Homes is one of four housebuilders currently developing the first neighbourhood in Grandhome, which is set to have approximately 650 new build homes for sale in Aberdeen, and is building a collection of over 30 properties.

Each features Georgian architecture with timber framed windows and front doors, traditional Scottish harling and doors painted in a range of muted colours from the Dulux heritage range.

An AJC Homes showhome will launch in the New Year offering buyers the chance to experience first-hand the look and feel of the new build properties for sale at Grandhome Aberdeen.

In the meantime, visit AJC Scotland for information on new build properties available at Grandhome in Bridge of Don.

For more information about Grandhome, visit https://grandhome.co.uk/

Father Christmas has a new set of addresses to add to his route this year as almost 100 people in Aberdeen’s newest community get ready to celebrate their first Christmas at Grandhome. 

On Christmas morning 80 households, including families, newlywed couples and downsizers, will be unwrapping presents at the Bridge of Don development, which is being built by the Grandhome Trust – in partnership with AJC Homes, CALA Homes and Dandara Homes. 

Bruce Smith, a trustee of the Grandhome Trust, commented: “Grandhome is quickly becoming a bustling community and it’s incredibly exciting to see everyone who lives here get ready to celebrate their first Christmas in their new homes. 

“Christmas is just one of the many annual occasions that the community here will be celebrating and into next year we hope to add to this by launching a calendar of new community events for everyone to enjoy, including those living within the development and surrounding areas. 

“We hope everyone has a wonderful festive season in Grandhome and look forward to the celebrations.” 

Once complete, the first neighbourhood in Grandhome will have approximately 650 homes and will be situated close to parks and community spaces. The long-term aim is to build 7,000 new homes which will be within walking distance of a range of amenities. All day-to-day needs will be met within a 5-7-minute walk and the connected street pattern means pedestrians and cyclists will be able to freely move without taking circuitous routes. For more information about Grandhome, visit https://grandhome.co.uk/.

AJC Homes has moved on site and opened their sales and information centre at Grandhome. Their initial development will include a collection of over 30 properties, from 2 & 3-bedroom apartments, detached houses and bungalows, to 2 & 3-bedroom semi-detached, mid-terrace and end-terrace houses. Featuring echoes of Georgian architecture with framed windows and front doors, the property exteriors are finished in traditional Scottish harling, and front doors are painted in muted colours from the Dulux Heritage range. Opening times are Thursday to Monday, 11am to 5pm.

AJC Homes is based in Aboyne and specialises in the design of high quality homes across a variety of attractive rural and suburban locations throughout Aberdeen City and Shire. AJC Homes is fully committed to the long term sustainable development of the North-East, creating beautiful places to live today, and for generations to come.

The project manager for CALA Homes at Grandhome has scooped one of the construction industry’s most coveted awards in recognition of his outstanding work. 

A time capsule giving those in the future a snapshot of life in Bridge of Don in 2018 has been buried to celebrate a brand new community ahead of its first residents moving in next month.

CALA Homes partnered with The Grandhome Trust and Braehead Primary School to fill the time capsule with photos, articles and plans illustrating the landmark Grandhome development.

Pupils from Braehead Primary created videos capturing why they like living in Bridge of Don. The seven videos are included on a USB stick within the time capsule.

A group of pupils from the school’s primary two class were also invited to watch the time capsule being buried. The group was invited after staff at CALA judged their video as the most creative.

Fraser Carr, Sales and Marketing Director at CALA Homes (North), said: “With Grandhome set to be a one-of-a-kind community, we wanted to mark the beginning of its creation by saving a little piece of history for future generations to find.

“We were very impressed by the videos the school’s pupils created. They provide a different perspective on Bridge of Don and it was fascinating to see what children in the area value most.

“The video produced by the primary two class included photos of pupils enjoying local parks and days at the beach. Each pupil also did a presentation looking at a different aspect of Bridge of Don such as their favourite shops, restaurants and kids clubs.”

Lesley Gardner, Acting Head Teacher at Braehead Primary School added: “All our pupils had great fun making videos for CALA’s time capsule and six of our primary two pupils were over the moon to have the chance to see it being buried.

“We are very proud that the videos are forming part of Grandhome’s legacy.”

Bruce Smith, Chairman of The Grandhome Trust, said: “After more than a decade of planning the Grandhome community, it’s very exciting to see CALA completing its very first homes. The time capsule is a great way to mark the occasion and will show the community’s future generations how Grandhome was originally created. It also celebrates the imminent arrival of Grandhome’s first residents who will shape the neighbourhood in its early years, and for many years to come.”

The first phase of CALA at Grandhome comprises 71 three and four bedroom properties including semi-detached and terraced homes, as well as spacious one and two bed apartments.

CALA’s development forms part of what is set to become a thriving substantial community featuring new schools, a health centre, parks, retail space and community buildings.