Work begins on community-owned affordable homes in Arisaig

Site off Station Road. Credit: Arisaig Community Trust

Construction work has begun this week on a community-led development of 10 affordable homes in Arisaig.
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Arisaig Community Trust is leading the project with support from the Communities Housing Trust.

The development on Station Road will include six community-owned homes for affordable rent and four self-build plots, managed by the Communities Housing Trust. All the plots will be discounted with the Rural Housing Burden, which assures affordability in perpetuity for the local community. All the homes will prioritise people with a need to live or work locally.

In the small community of around 300, an extensive survey in 2018 showed a strong need for housing current residents and incoming workers with key skills, which was set to increase over the following years.

In 2019, residents and local businesses were invited to community workshops about the proposed housing, where there was overwhelming support for energy-efficient, affordable homes with a variety of tenures to meet local needs and budgets.

Arisaig Community Trust then purchased the 2-acre site in 2021 with funding from the Scottish Land Fund. Further funding for the development has been given through the Scottish Government’s Rural & Islands Housing Fund, the Rural Communities Fund, the Quaker Housing Trust, and The Highland Council.

Full planning permission was granted in October, and contractors S&K Macdonald began work on site this week.

Breaking ground! L-R: Contractor Kenneth MacDonald, Fiona Sorley from CHT; Pamela King from ACT; Gordon Paice (Employers Agent), John Angus & Leigh (Clerks of Works for Lochaber Housing Association). Credit: Arisaig Community Trust

Pamela King, Project Officer for the Arisaig Community Trust said: “We have been very grateful for the support of the Communities Housing Trust and our funding partners in enabling the project to reach this stage. Affordable homes are needed more than ever and it is very exciting to think about the individuals and families who will benefit from this project when they are complete. We have full confidence that S+K MacDonald Homes will deliver fantastic new houses for the village of Arisaig and look forward to seeing things progress over the next year.”

Ronnie MacRae, CEO of the Communities Housing Trust, said: “This development will provide much-needed homes for 10 families, supporting the continued growth of local services and businesses and helping the wider community to thrive. The project has very much been driven by Arisaig Community Trust and people locally, and we are delighted to help in achieving their aims. We’d like to thank the Scottish Government for their continued funding support for rural community-led developments such as this one.”

To express interest in the homes or self-build plots, please register your details at: www.chtrust.co.uk/future-opportunities.html