A ballot over a possible community buyout of the Bays of Harris Estate is expected to be held by the end of the year, it has been announced.
The process slowed down last year but a steering group elected by the community say things are now making headway.
The outcome of a feasibility study would be used as a blueprint for the economic and social regeneration of the 30,000 acre area.
The pros and cons of the community taking on ownership will be examined before villagers will cast their vote whether to buy the land or leave things as they are.
Prospect of ballot over potential Bays of Harris Estate buyout
2 July 2016
The estate's private owners previously indicated they had no desire to sell but recognised the move toward community ownership throughout Scotland and in particular the Western Isles.
The Bays of Harris Estate is owned by the Hitchcock family who bought it for £5000 after the death of Lord Leverhulme, a founder of what is now the Unilever multinational giant, in 1925.
Steering group chairman, John Maher, said they have made "significant progress" in recent months.
“We’re currently working towards holding a ballot by the end of the year.
“Our feasibility study is nearing completion; its findings will be presented at a series of public meetings in the autumn.”
Mr Maher added: “We were surprised to discover how much income the estate brings in each year. If the community were to take on ownership, that money would stay on the island and be invested in projects decided upon by the residents, for the long term benefits of the community.
“With that in mind, we’re looking for input from residents who may have ideas or suggestions as to how the community might make best use of that income and how things should be run post buyout.
“We’re forming focus groups to look more closely at three specific areas relevant to the future of the estate: housing, economics and crofting.
“If you’re a resident of the Bays of Harris Estate and you care about its future, we’d like to hear your ideas or suggestions and have you join one of our focus groups.”
The estate is unusual as it is split into three separate tracts of land, segregated by land and sea, in Harris and North Uist.
The area runs from Direcleit towards Leverburgh, the main settlement in South Harris which is also the port for the Sound of Harris ferry.
A separate parcel of land at Northon is landlocked between two other estates.
Across the Sound of Harris, is the Isle of Berneray as well as the uninhabited Hermetray group of islands off North Uist, which are also included.