Lochalsh Micro-Eco Village Project Funding Secured

Communities Housing Trust (CHT) are delighted to confirm that a project to revitalise the community of Loch Duich and the wider community in Lochalsh has secured funding from the Scottish Land Fund. The project, on the shores of Loch Duich will create five woodland crofts, affordable house sites, two business units, set up a community growing area, and work on a parallel project to develop 6 affordable housing units with housing partners on two Forestry and Land Scotland sites on the shores of Loch Duich.

Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust (KLCT) has developed this project aimed at regenerating and revitalizing the local community and economy. The Scottish Land Fund has approved a grant of £166,720 to purchase two parcels of land at Ratagan and Saraig, Lochalsh, from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) through Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and appoint a Community Development Officer.

CHT have been pleased to support the work of the Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust and the vision of the Loch Duich Community Council. CHT carried out a Housing Needs Survey and a Community engagement event in Inverinate Hall to explain proposals directly to the community. Following on from this they coordinated the process of a feasibility study on the site and worked with KLCT, Woodland Croft Partnership (WCP), the Architect Iain Livesley and Engineers Harley Haddow to develop the layouts and concepts for the Ratagan and Saraig sites.

The concept of a micro eco village developed through collaboration on the project, with the main themes of repopulation, sustainability, land & habitat management, affordable homes and economic opportunities. Advice sought from WCP) highlighted that people were interested in this concept and way of life.

Morven Taylor, Interim Chief Executive Officer at Communities Housing Trust said “The Micro-Eco Village projects at Ratagan and Saraig have been an absolute delight to work on. It is encouraging that so many local people attended the open event and had such enthusiasm towards the creation of new affordable homes alongside the wider project goals. Thank you to the funders at the Scottish Government’s Rural & Islands Housing Fund and the Scottish Land fund for enabling the feasibility study to be developed into this exciting new concept which takes a holistic approach to community-led housing & community development. We look forward to working with Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust and Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association (LSHA) on the design stage of the affordable housing soon.”

A partnership approach will be developed through a Minute of Understanding with LSHA, CHT and KLCT for the next phase of works.

CHT would finally like to express thanks to the Scottish Land Fund and Forestry & Land Scotland for their support in coordinating the funding applications and the CATS transfer.