Projects designed to stimulate economic activity, boost tourism and improve community assets on Scotland’s islands will share £4.1m in the latest round of funding from the Islands Programme.
A total of 13 initiatives will get money, including a community recycling hub on Shetland, new accommodation for workers in Mull and a new bike park on the Isle of Arran. More than £700,000 has also be used to help preserve the 18th Century Garrison House complex in Millport.
Islands Secretary Mairi Gougeon announced the news while attending a conference on sustainable islands in Shetland.
“I recognise the continued resilience shown by Islanders in response to the climate and cost of living crises, but I am mindful that ongoing support is needed in order to ensure the long term sustainability of our island communities,” she stated.
“This new funding displays our commitment to enact our National Islands Plan across all six island authorities in Scotland in order to tackle island depopulation, boost local economies and bolster tourism.”
Neil Rutherford, senior associate director at the Scottish Futures Trust, said: “Our infrastructure experts have worked closely with Scottish Government and the island local authorities to ensure the Islands Programme continues to deliver positive outcomes for island communities.
“The awards further support equality of opportunity, and community social enterprise ventures that will support repopulation, economic growth and local jobs, and we’re looking forward to continuing to work with the community project teams to see their visions move into reality and achieve what the communities need most.”
Shetland Islands Council leader Emma MacDonald added: “The projects which we put forward for consideration were developed and driven by local communities, and address vital issues for our future such as employment support for vulnerable people, regeneration of community assets, food security, and addressing climate change through the circular economy.”
The 2023/24 Islands Programme was launched on 31 January, with an application deadline of 21 April.
Applications have been subject to scrutiny and assessment by the Islands Programme Investment Panel, which has made recommendations on projects to be funded. The panel is selected from Scottish Government and a range of partner organisations which have experience of panel assessments and infrastructure spending.
Details of approved projects are as follows:
£298,900 - Canna Hub, Canna - Highland Council
This project will redevelop a former coal store beside Canna pier to create a reception hub and accessible facilities to support the sustainable growth of the island’s economy. The building will help support the increasing number of visitors that form a part of the island’s economy. The building will also act as a consultation and treatment room for use by NHS health workers so that residents can attend appointments in private.
£700,000 - Infrastructure for Worker Accommodation - Mull, Argyll and Bute Council
This application is for phase one site infrastructure to enable delivery of accommodation for workers and will meet clearly-evidenced community need for worker accommodation with essential positions currently being left unfilled. The project makes a significant contribution in delivering on the place-based priorities of the Isle of Mull community to meet housing need, that should in turn accelerate local growth and resilience.
£75,202 - Growing Space Nesting Shetland Mainland - Shetland Islands Council
This project, run by Community Development Company Nesting, aims to transition a section of its vacant land into a community growing space and park for skills building, food growing and volunteering. It will address the identified local demand for a community growing space and increase regular access to affordable, fresh produce, featuring options for shared, publicly accessible outdoor and undercover growing to allow the production of fruit and vegetables.
£450,000 - Tiree Community Care Hub - Tiree, Argyll and Bute Council
This project centres on the modernisation and reconfiguration of the Tigh a Rudha care home. A critical part of the island community and currently providing essential care and support to elderly residents, it will be turned into a modern and flexible Community Care Hub which will also provide onsite key worker accommodation, and intermediate, end of life and respite care facilities and GP beds.
£730,998 - Garrison House Regeneration Scheme, Cumbrae - North Ayrshire Council
The Garrison House Regeneration Scheme seeks to restore, re-purpose and enhance the Garrison House complex in Millport, Isle of Cumbrae. The project will secure the building fabric for future generations, improve accessibility, improve the availability of and access to services, and increase its energy efficiency and resilience to climate change. Work will include a comprehensive conservation scheme, a new gym accessible to all and provision of a changing places facility to address the lack of both on the island.
£220,625 - Dyemill Bike Park, Arran - North Ayrshire Council
Arran High School Mountain Bike Club propose to build, manage, and maintain an accessible, all-weather environment to grow and develop the island’s cycling community. The plan is to develop local competition and event opportunities, in addition to providing a safe and accessible area for coaching and skills development.
£695,000 - COPE Shetland Home Co Expansion Project, Shetland - Shetland Islands Council
This project is designed to grow the reach and impact of COPE’s Shetland Home Co, a re-use centre that sells furniture, electrical goods and homewares. Electrical goods that cannot be sold are processed and stripped down to components for recycling. The project will support the circular economy, while helping individuals with learning disabilities.
£71,005 - Hymhus, The Bigton Regeneration Hub Phase 1, Shetland - Shetland Islands Council
This application is for Phase 1 of the renovation of Hymhus to provide an inspirational hub for arts and health. The measures will improve sustainability and meantime use, allow for a more flexible renovation plan and a continued income stream for a key community asset which provides a warm space, works to address social isolation and hosts therapeutic services.
£250,000 - Stornoway Campus, Lewis - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
The planned works are to redevelop UHI Outer Hebrides to enhance the learning and training facilities and enable innovative approaches to digital and distance learning. This will involve transforming Stornoway campus through the integration of new technologies, enabling a greater degree of outreach to more remote learners and island businesses. A range of mobile facilities and equipment will further support equality of opportunity and enable outreach capability in Uist and Barra.
£382,307 - Acarsaid Harbour Development Eriskay and South Uist - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
This application is to enhance the currently constrained harbour facility at the local authority owned pier at Acarsaid on the East coast of Eriskay, by introducing an enlarged concrete deck pier - extending the life of the facility by 50 years - and extending the in-demand pontoon. This should improve vessel unloading, address berthing demand and will minimise idling times for unloading and steaming time to more distant berths, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
£200,000 - Kirkwall Bridge Street Development - Mainland Orkney, Orkney Islands Council
The focus of this application is a rapid first phase to establish new activity within The Bridge Street Development Project in Kirkwall, which occupies a prime location in one of the most historic parts of the town, but is vacant brownfield site with derelict warehouse buildings. Plans are to create a reusable steel framed multi-occupancy food and drink hospitality and leisure business environment. With an estimated project cost of £4.65m, the Phase One Project represents a significant investment in the regeneration of Kirkwall's town centre.
£78,350 - An Taigh Mor, Lewis - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
This application is to progress the design of An Taigh Mòr, a Grade 2 listed building, to RIBA 4 and building warrant stages, planning interpretation in detail and for preparing tender documents to renovate, extend and fit out the building for future use. The preservation and redevelopment work will ultimately enable the local community to deliver the project aims of successfully interpreting its links to the Flannan Isles, providing space for community use of a size and nature not available elsewhere locally and increase opportunities for the community to engage with its history, language and culture.
£55,000 - Seallam! Hebrides People Visitor Centre, Harris - Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
This application is to complete RIBA Stage 3 and 4 work to enable the refurbishment and extension of the existing facilities at the Seallam! Hebrides People Visitor Centre to be upgraded to provide an attraction in South Harris, which is community owned and run. The facility is already creating and sustaining local jobs, building partnerships across islands and once complete will kick start the economic regeneration of Northton township.
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