Achiltibuie group sell land to millionaire’s enterprise in order to ‘boost’ affordable homes bid
ACHILTIBUIE’S community council have sold a plot of land previously intended for two new homes, in order to “accelerate delivery” of a larger affordable housing development in the Wester Ross village.
In July 2023, CCDC had been granted planning permission in principle for the demolition of a former smokehouse, and the erection of two houses on the former smokehouse site.
CCDC acquired the former smokehouse site in 2013, and over the last decade, the building has housed a variety of activities for the Coigach community.
However, in 2022, CCDC commissioned a valuation report from surveyors, Graham and Sibbald, who indicated that the former smokehouse building had reached the end of its design life.
Previously, the site plan for the land was two, three-bedroom units.
However, as recently reported in the Ross-shire Journal, CCDC are currently progressing a planning application for 10 new houses at the former hydroponicum site in Achiltibuie, named Achagarry.
Therefore, the community council have decided to “focus its resources on building new, affordable houses at Achagarry”.
In a press release announcing the decision, CCDC said: “In August 2023 [we] made the decision to sell the site of the former smokehouse, located in the township of Altandhu in Coigach. Since acquiring the site in 2007, CCDC has tried a number of initiatives but none have been a perfect fit.
“Planning permission in principle was secured for two houses, but development of the site would have been challenging and diverted resources from other CCDC priorities. Having carefully considered all available options, the development company instead decided to focus its resources on building new, affordable houses at Achagarry.
“Consequently, expressions of interest for the smokehouse site were invited over the month of September 2023, and these were reviewed by CCDC directors who assessed the merits of each submission and ultimately accepted an offer from Summer Isles Enterprises.”
Summer Isles Enterprises operates the Tanera project — a large-scale restoration and hospitality venture which was kickstarted by millionaire Ian Wace’s purchase of the island in 2017.
In July of this year, the same millionaire financer gifted funds to CCDC for the purchase of the £2.7m Badentarbet Estate, with the community council noting their “number one” priority to build affordable housing.
CCDC continued: “After working together to protect the access rights to the neighbouring croft for future generations, the sale has now been finalised.
“The funds generated from the sale will be used to accelerate the delivery of 10 new affordable homes at Achagarry, a much-needed boost as building costs have been rising substantially since the Covid-19 pandemic.”
Chairperson of CCDC, Richard Williams said: “We are very pleased to have been able to secure a good deal for the community, raising much-needed capital to help with the onward Achagarry development, whilst seeing a positive future for the former smokehouse site secured.”
