Todd encourages Sutherland crofters to apply for Scottish government grant

Local MSP Maree Todd encourages crofters living in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross to apply to the Croft House Grant, to help them maximise the full potential of their croft and attract people to remote and rural communities.

Thanks to the Scottish Government increasing the grant rate for home improvements from 40 per cent to 60 per cent of the total project cost, more families, and crofters will now be able to benefit.

The grant scheme, which launched in 2007, has helped 1100 households in rural or island communities upgrade or build new homes in their crofts, backed by over £24.2 million of funding from the Scottish Government.

Ms Todd, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “I welcome this significant increase in funding from the Scottish Government to support housing in our rural and island communities, which is sure to be of great help to many of my constituents.

“This Tory cost of living crisis has taken a heavy toll on many households living in remote communities in Scotland – who it seems have been all but forgotten by the UK government – and I urge any crofters living in the Highlands to check if they are eligible for this grant support.

“The Croft House Grant is another example of where the Scottish Government is standing up for rural communities; crofters, and farmers have already benefited from receiving advance payment of the Basic Payment Scheme – brought forward by the Scottish Government – to support Scotland’s farmers with cash flow and the cost of living crisis.

“We have a proud crofting history in the Highlands, and it is right that these traditions are supported and protected, so that it can continue to bring wealth and opportunities to the community for generations to come.”

For more info visit: www.gov.scot/news/more-support-for-scotlands-crofters/ and www.gov.scot/news/farm-payment-dates-to-be-brought-forward/

Crofting tenure requires crofters to live within 32 kilometres of their croft and provide their own housing, so the Croft House Grant can assist crofters to meet their statutory duty. There are four application rounds every year, March, June, September and December, and eligible applications are assessed using a scoring system, which is designed to target support at those who would not be able to build or improve their home without grant support.

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