The Scottish space race

Space is one of the most important factors to people looking to buy a home in Scotland, according to new research.

A study by Clydesdale Bank has indicated that more than half (57 per cent) of homebuyers north of the border are driven by the amount of room a property has to offer.

However, despite being prepared to fork out for the additional space, most people do not use it in the way that they may have intended.

Garages across the country have been filled up with belongings and over half (53 per cent) of people admit to leaving their car out on the drive as their outbuilding is full of their possessions.

Steve Reid, Clydesdale Bank’s director of retail banking, explained: "While location still tops the charts of ‘must haves’, space is now the new frontier. However, once we’ve got it – and in most cases paid a premium for it – we often don’t use it in the way we intended."

Recent figures from the Bank of Scotland indicate that the average price of a house north of the border is currently £141,158.