North-west Sutherland's repopulation coordinator floats idea of modular housing on stilts on land next to geopark visitor centre, the Rock Stop
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Modular housing on stilts could be developed on a steep area of ground next to the North West Highlands Geopark visitor centre at Unapool, it has been suggested.
Highland Council’s repopulation coordinator for north-west Sutherland and Coigach, Boyd Alexander, floated the idea at a meeting of Assynt Community Council last Thursday.
Mr Alexander, the former manager of the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape scheme, explained he had taken up the recently created 12-month post.
He told community councillors his role is to focus on identifying land for housing with a view to stabilising and growing the population in the north-west.
So far he said around 47 hectares of land had been identified in the area he covers.
He said a local resident had approached him and suggested he look at land at the Rock Stop - the geopark’s visitor centre, cafe and exhibition space. The building formerly served as a primary school.
Assynt Community Council rents the school from the council and in turn has leased it to the geopark.
“It has a playground area to the north which isn’t being used by the geopark, and I have had informal discussions with them,” said Mr Alexander.
“They would be quite happy as long as we make sure that none of the housing units would inhibit the view. If there was accommodation there for someone to help with the Rock Stop, then they might be able to keep it open year round.
The area of land in question was said to be around 1900 square metres and it is thought it could accommodate three modular units.
"The ground is steep but the modular units could be put on stilts and that would work quite well," said Mr Alexander.
He continued: “I was just hoping to have a discussion with the community council to see whether you would be happy to relinquish that bit of land and then I can talk to the housing officer about the possibilities.”
Community council chairman Liam Taylor said: “It is not off the table. Keep us updated with discussions you are having and we will see what happens."
