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11 March 2024
Twelve new homes for rent will be built in Leverburgh following a community campaign.
Only six social housing properties were earmarked for construction under the original plan but South Harris Community Council spearheaded a drive to double the number.
It’s been an extraordinary long wait -
A recent increase to the housing list number demonstrated the critical need for affordable homes.
“Significant” ground works required to enable 12 homes instead of the original planned six to be built and was a “major stumbling block” in reaching a fundable project said Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP).
Now the Scottish Government has agreed to provide the highest level of grant possible to deal with what is a “very challenging development,” said HHP.
Gordon Macleod, chair of HHP said: “This has not been an easy project to get over
the line, but I am pleased that at the end of an enormous amount of hard work on
the part of many, we will now be able to cut the turf in Leverburgh and see 12 new
homes completed in the next 18 months or so.
“I would particularly like to thank the Scottish Government for their support not just financially, but the time they have invested to make this work, the comhairle for assisting with the funding gap and our preferred contractor, Alex Murray Construction, for working with us to identify suitable reductions.”
The two councillors for Na Hearadh, Paul Finnegan and Grant Fulton, said:
“For a range of technical reasons this has been a hugely challenging project. We
appreciate the work that government, HHP and comhairle officials have put into
making the project happen and we very much recognise the very significant levels of
investment that has been required to make the project deliverable.
“We would also wish to thank Mark Miller-
“We are pleased that the comhairle was able to make an important financial contribution to close the funding gap and make the project happen.
“It is hugely important for peripheral areas that new affordable housing is made available to support the community and to facilitate future development opportunities.
“Although the process has been long and, at times frustrating, we are pleased that this has been recognised and that this critically important development for both Leverburgh and Harris will now proceed.”
South Harris Community Council recently highlighted the development is “key to our future and the very survival of our community.”
Donnie Macdonald, the body’s chairman, had explained how young people were leaving the island and forgoing employment opportunities in Harris because of the dire shortage of suitable housing.
The 866 people who live in South Harris endure high living costs and lower than average income. The area has seen very little economic investment over the last 25 years.
Just 54% of the local population are of working age -
A tender has been accepted and work is expected to start this summer once building warrants are obtained.
Changes to earlier plans included altering the mix from 10 rented and two shared equity homes to 12 rented resulting in a higher level of Scottish Government grant.
Projects in the comhairle’s housing investment strategy will be
changed to move two houses from a Stornoway project to Leverburgh.
The contractor’s price has been reduced while local councillors have used a portion of their ward funding to assist with the financial gap to get the project over the line.
The comhairle will also provide rent guarantee protection in support of the
Development as a contingency.
Donnie Macdonald, and South Harris Community Council which he chairs, campaigned for the new homes