It’s not something you see everyday, but a remote island in Scotland has been popped on the market, and the entire thing’ll set you back less than it would for the average house in Didsbury.
While we know that the Greater Manchester region is a largely-affordable place to buy a home in comparison with the rest of the UK, there are some affluent areas and suburbs of the city that are significantly more expensive than others – and perhaps nothing proves that more than the fact that an entire island in Scotland has just gone on sale for £350,000.
And the average price of a house in Didsbury was £396,768 over the last year.
The sought-after South Manchester suburb isn’t the only culprit here though, as a handful of other local areas also have average houses higher than the price of the Pladda Isles.
Houses in Chorlton went for £366,988 on average last year, while houses in Altrincham had an average price of £555,622, and in the picturesque Stockport village of Marple Bridge saw people have to part with £405,508 on average.
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So where exactly is this island then? And is it really as good as it sounds?
Well, the Pladda Isles sits south of the Isle of Arran on Scotland’s Atlantic Coast, and for those who like a bit of solitude, then it’s presenting prospective homebuyers with a unique opportunity to get on the property ladder and get away from the rat race for just £350,000.
The island spans 28 acres, and comes with what estate agents Knight Frank call an “extensive range” of buildings – including a lighthouse built in the 1790s, and the former lighthouse keeper’s house which boasts five decent-sized bedrooms.
Although, these buildings do need a bit of TLC as they’ve fallen into disrepair after being left empty.
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The island spans 28 acres of land / Credit: Knight Frank
A bothy, which comes complete with a double bedroom and kitchen area, can also be found on the island, as well as a 2.5 acre walled garden, a helipad, and a stone jetty for boats to arrive and depart from.
The Pladda Isles also boasts views stretching across the Kintyre and the Ayrshire coasts from one side, Ailsa Craig from the other direction, and on a clear day, you can even see out to Northern Ireland.
Estate agents also claim that more than 100 species of birds have been recorded on the island too, from Arctic Terns to Turnstones and Shags all spotted.
Bolton has been named the ‘mouldiest’ place in the UK
Emily Sergeant
Bolton has been named the ‘mouldiest’ place in the UK, and it’s joined by two other Greater Manchester towns in the top 10.
Talk about a not-so-coveted title, right?
From damp flats to poorly-ventilated houses, the battle against mould seems to be constant for many UK residents, and while Awaab’s Law – which was named in memory of Rochdale toddler, Awaab Ishak, and introduced back in 2023 – was brought in to tackle this very problem, by mandating faster response times from social housing landlords for dealing with damp-related issues, the problem still continues for homeowners and tenants alike despite this new legislation.
And now, some new research by thermal imaging experts at Tester has revealed where the ‘mouldiest’ places to live in the UK are.
Bolton has been named the ‘mouldiest’ place in the UK / Credit: Wikimedia Commons | Benjamin Elliott (via Unsplash)
Tester measured the average monthly search volume for various mould-related terms over the past 12 months – including ‘mould removal cost’, and ‘black mould removal’ – to figure out where the mouldiest places in the country are, and devise a top 10 list.
Bolton takes the title of the UK’s mouldiest place, according to the new research, with an average monthly search volume for mould-related terms of 945 per 100,000 people, and ‘magic mould’ being the most-searched term as residents seem eager to find a simple solution to their ever-growing mould problems.
Top 10 ‘mouldiest’ places in the UK
Bolton
Croydon
Manchester
Bath
Bristol
Lincoln
Bournemouth
Norwich
Stockport
Wakefield
Manchester places third on the list, with an average monthly search volume of 922 per 100,000 people, and Stockport also features in the less-than-ideal top 10 at number nine.
Croydon in London claims the runner-up spot on the list, while Bath and Bristol round out the top five alongside Manchester, and Lincoln, Norwich, and Wakefield are some of the other areas to make up the top 10.
A spokesperson for Tester admitted that the surge in searches for mould-related terms in the UK is “worrying to say the least”.
Speaking on the findings from the team’s new research, they continued in a statement: “The study shows that UK residents are actively seeking out mould removal solutions, pointing to a wider problem of mould and mildew growth in homes not being properly dealt with, either by landlords or homeowners themselves.”
Featured Image – Wikimedia Commons
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PrettyLittleThing founder marries model in star-studded £20m wedding
Daisy Jackson
The founder of Manchester fashion brand PrettyLittleThing, Umar Kamani, has married his model love in a lavish four-day wedding celebration.
The entrepreneur married Nada Adelle in the south of France in a glittering event reportedly costing £20m.
Among the guests were a-listers like Naomi Campbell, Anthony Joshua, and Rio Ferdinand, with performances from Mariah Carey and Ronan Keating.
Umar, originally from Manchester, also invited fellow Mancs like all three Thomas brothers Ryan, Scott and Adam, and fellow entrepreneur Steven Bartlett.
The stunning wedding took place three years after the happy couple announced their engagement (he proposed with a diamond ring worth £1.45m).
Umar, 36, co-founded online fashion giant PrettyLittleThing with his brother Adam. His bride Nada, 31, is a model.
And while he’s famed for creating affordable fashion, this wedding leaned the other way – Nada wore an haute couture Dior gown designed by Maria Grazia Chiuri, which took 540 hours to make.
The PrettyLittleThing founder’s wedding kicked off with a poolside welcome party where all guests dressed in white.
Celebrity guests at PrettyLittleThing co-founder Umar Kamani’s wedding included Naomi Campbell. Credit: InstagramRio and Kate Ferdinand at the lavish wedding in the south of France. Credit: instagramScott Thomas with Steven Bartlett at Umar Kamani’s wedding
Then came a black tie wedding celebration, where Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli sang The Prayer as Nada walked down the aisle.
The reception that followed took place inside a huge ballroom, where Mariah Carey sang several of her biggest hits to delighted guests.
On the third day of the wedding, it was time for the traditional Indian wedding celebration, Nada this time dressed in a sparkling gown in contrast to her more simple Dior dress.
And guests were treated to a barbecue on Sunday before heading home from France.
Mariah Carey performing at the Kamani wedding. Credit: Instagram, Lucy MecklenburghScott Thomas shared a glimpse into the lavish black tie wedding reception of PrettyLittleThing founder Umar KamaniAndrea Bocelli performing at the Kamani wedding. Credit: Instagram, Ryan ThomasAdam Kamani’s sweet message to his brother and PrettyLittleThing co-founder Umar on his wedding day
Many of the celebrity guests have been sharing snaps from the big day(s), including Scott Thomas, who wrote: “There is nothing quite like a Kamani Wedding. Congratulations @umarkamani @nadakamani. Memories for a lifetime…”
Umar’s brother and PrettyLittleThing co-founder Adam also shared a sweet message from the wedding, writing: “Walking down the aisle to see you at the end of it stood there so handsome and strong before you got married. A feeling i can’t describe. I really am so proud of you. Love you so much @umarkamani.”
Naomi Campbell posted: “My chosen family ! Would not want to be anywhere else than with you on this day , TO WITNESS THIS BEAUTIFUL UNION OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE MR&MRSKAMANI WE LOVE YOU !!”
The supermodel icon also described it as a ‘divine weekend of love’.