Former church turned hostel in Stoer could now become a private home
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A HISTORIC former church in north-west Sutherland which was converted into a hostel but but never operated as such, could now be turned into a private home.
An application to change the use of Stoer Hostel has been submitted to Highland Council and is being considered.
The redundant, 120-year-old Stoer Free Presbyterean Church, sited eight miles north of Lochinver on the B869 road, was purchased in 2018 by Stoer resident, the late Claire Belshaw.
Historic Stoer church reopens as a 20-bed hostel
Stoer Hostel on the market with offers of over £275k invited
Its history can be traced back to 1902 with handwritten title deeds to the building showing that the plot of land on which it stands was feued by the Duke of Sutherland to 10 named individuals from Culkein, Achnacarnin, Clashness, Clashmore, Clachtoll and Balchladich.
Ms Belshaw successfully applied to Highland Council for planning permission to change the use of the slate-roofed property to provide bunkhouse accommodation.
A Harvest Thanksgiving service was held in the former church before the conversion work began.
The interior of the building was gutted to create an open plan kitchen/living area on the ground floor, including cooking and dining facilities.
A newly constructed first floor housed six bunkrooms and sanitary facilities. There was also a boot room, utility room, drying room and office.
Ms Belshaw kept half the pews in the building and had them made into tables and benches.
A self-contained studio flat/warden's quarters consisted of a kitchenette, bedroom and shower room.
Situated on the North Coast 500 tourist route and in the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area, the 20-bed hostel has stunning views. It was ready to open in November 2022.
Sadly Ms Belshaw died on January 22, 2023, and the hostel was put on the market fully-furnished with offers of over £275,000 invited.
Jezz Bird, from Dewsbury in West Yorkshire, has now applied for planning permission to change the use of the building to a private dwelling.
But it appears he is not planning an extensive remodelling of the hostel.
He states in his application: "We wish to change the use of this building from Class 7 (hotels and hostels) to class 9 (houses).
"We wish to use the building for purely residential purposes. We do not intend to do any construction, alteration or demolition to the property whatsoever.
"We wish to live in the building exactly as it is and make no changes to it internally or externally."
According to Mr Bird , the building never actually operated as a hostel.
