West Harris Trust project

Construction of £1.55 million community enterprise centre gets underway

9 May 2015

Ron Murray (centre) of contractor John Murray & Co,is flanked by Neil Campbell(left) and Roddy MacLennan of West Harris Trust with Donald John MacKay in the digger at the turf-cutting ceremony

Construction work on a new £1.55 million community enterprise centre in Harris is underway.

The 500m² centre for the community-owned West Harris Trust will incorporate a community venue and meeting place, restaurant, office space, business and studio space as well as exhibition area.

Stornoway-based contractors John Murray and Co are due to complete the building by March 2016. The firm won the job following a competitive tendering process.

At the time of estate purchase by the community in 2010 there were no bespoke community facilities and no business space to stimulate economic development.

Local resident Donald John Mackay of the Luskentyre Harris Tweed Company took to the controls of an excavator to cut the first turf.

Mr Mackay Donald John is renowned for his championing of the Harris Tweed industry including selling to Nike. The trust hopes that activities in the completed centre will display a similar entrepreneurial spirit.

Chair of West Harris Trust, Murdo MacKay, said: “This project will transform opportunities for social and economic development on the west side of Harris and will be a great asset to the local community.”

The West Harris Trust is the community landlord for the 6,254-acre district of West Harris. The Scottish Government sold the land to the people in January 2010.

The land is made up of three estates covering the townships of Scaristavore, Borve and Luskentyre. There have been fears for its long term prospects unless new people are attracted into the community of West Harris which has a population of around 123.