Grant funding for Highland community groups from the Scottish Land Fund to help take over ownership of local assets for the benefit of local residents
Highland community groups have received a cash boost from the Scottish Land Fund following the latest round of grants.
A total of eight projects will each get a share of £859,305 and the money will allow the groups to take ownership of local assets and put them to use for the benefit of their local communities.
Go Golspie has received £147,890 to purchase the town’s Fountain Road Church Hall which will converted into a multi-use community space.
Assynt Development Trust has been given £65,750 which will be used to buy 55 acres of land in Lochinver for affordable rental housing, self-build plots and commercial units, along with tracks and trails and motorhome pitches.
The Glebe site will be bought from the Church of Scotland, and it is hoped that this could be one solution to a long-standing housing shortage in the area.
A range of housing tenures could be provided on the site which lies on the road to Glen Canisp, so the site’s position in itself offers further benefits to the surrounding areas.
Willie Jack, the chairman of the development trust, said: "News of this award from the Scottish Land Fund is a turning point for our community as it means that the Lochinver Future Homes project can now proceed to the next stage allowing our young people and families to remain at the very heart of Assynt."
The community was supported by Highland Council and the Communities Housing Trust and had spent more than a decade trying to identify suitable sites for affordable housing in the area.
Ronnie MacRae, the chief executive of the Communities Housing Trust, said: “Communities Housing Trust are delighted to be supporting Assynt Development Trust in working up proposals for this exciting, multi-use project. Alongside housing, there are a range of possibilities which will greatly benefit the community, both socially and economically.”
Land Reform secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The coronavirus pandemic has continued to set us all unprecedented challenges throughout 2020, acutely affecting local communities right across Scotland, and beyond.
“But despite these challenges – in fact, because of them - communities up and down the country are playing an increasingly vital role in maintaining and building our resilience, our spirit and local support networks.
“I commend the latest recipients of Scottish Land Fund grants for driving forward plans to support and enhance their local areas as part of our Green recovery, in what are clearly difficult circumstances. I am particularly pleased that, through what is the final round of funding for this year, the Scottish Land Fund is supporting such a high number of unique and diverse projects, and I look forward to these projects delivering on their ambitions in the new year.”
Sandra Holmes, head of community assets at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “These successful projects announced today are all great examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of their communities."
John Watt, Chair, Scottish Land Fund Committee said: “This wide range of groups across the Highlands sharing in £859,305 of funding are now in a unique position to take control of land and property assets that will reap rewards for people now and for generations to come."
