The island community of Raasay is welcoming the start of a new development that offers much needed local housing, with a start on a site of five community-led and five affordable self build plots. The combination of house types and tenures offers a solution to housing for rural communities that could be replicated elsewhere.
With support from the Communities Housing Trust, the Raasay Development Trust is leading the project and will ultimately manage the three community-owned homes for affordable rent, with the other two community homes available for social rent with Lochalsh & Skye Housing Association.
The remaining five affordable self-build plots will be discounted with the Rural Housing Burden, which is unique to Scotland, which guarantees affordability in perpetuity as it controls future sales linked to the local community. The plots are also smaller than open-market plots, which also helps with affordability.
The community-owned site was purchased by the Trust with funding from the Scottish Land Fund in 2020, with further key funding from the Scottish Government’s Rural & Islands Housing Fund, and Ecology Building Society, who may also be able to provide mortgages for the self-build homes.
Like many rural communities, Raasay has seen an increase in demand for affordable housing, and this solution provide valuable new homes to meet this need, for people with a link or need to live on the island.
Anyone interested in the plots should register with the Communities Housing Trust, with the Raasay Development Trust managing the allocations process, and the Trust also recommends those in housing need to register with the Highland Housing Register.
Chair of Raasay Development Trust, Iain Hector Ross, said: “Raasay has a clear and present need for new affordable housing stock to meet the growing demand from young islanders choosing to stay and others wanting to move to the island for increasing work opportunities.
“We are fortunate that the island is enjoying an era of growing economic confidence and opportunity, where young people now see a long-term future for themselves here. Quality housing is vital to support that future and we hope that the delivery of these new homes is just the first step towards providing every young islander with an affordable option.”
Jon Lee, community housing lead at Ecology Building Society, said: “We’re excited once again to work alongside the other funders to support this development on Raasay. Providing funding for affordable, energy efficient, community-led housing and to encourage sustainable self-build particularly chimes with our mission to build a greener society.”
Image: Raasay Development Trust director Ali MacInnes marks the start on site
