Community buy-out of Muckle Roe on the horizon after funding boost worth nearly £300k
TAKING Muckle Roe into community ownership has moved a step closer after nearly £300,000 in funding was awarded to the project.
The grant of £239,340 from the Scottish Land Fund will be used by Muckle Roe Community Enterprise to buy the Muckle Roe estate from its private owner. This covers the cost of the entire purchase.
The estate consists of crofting land, common grazing, moorland, peatland and coastline across 1,578 hectares.
Muckle Roe landowner Max Ward previously spoke to Shetland News about his family’s desire to pass on the island, which has a population of around 130, to the community.
Ward owns around 60 per cent of the island and is the landlord to around 25 crofting families. The remaining 40 per cent has been sold to local crofters over the years exercising their right to buy.
Chairman of Muckle Roe Community Enterprise SCIO Keith Doull said: “We are extremely grateful that the Scottish Land Fund has approved funding towards the purchase of the Muckle Roe estate.
“We would like to thank all that made this possible; the current owners Max and Sarah Ward who generously offered to sell the estate to the community, our strong community support and the hard work and dedication of the trustees and the original steering group.
“This amazing opportunity will enable us to protect and manage Muckle Roe while ensuring future generations have a meaningful voice in how the land is cared for.”
There are also a number of other significant grants coming Shetland’s way from the latest round of awards from the Scottish Land Fund.
Northmavine Community Development Company will use its grant of £99,000 to buy the old Urafirth School site from Shetland Islands Council so that it can redevelop the site as part of an affordable housing project.
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Fair Isle Development Company has received £45,160 to purchase a flat within the island’s South Lighthouse complex to create a three-bedroom affordable home for rent.
With its award of £50,000 North Yell Development Council will purchase unit two at Sellafirth Business Park, which features a garage and an existing Royal Mail sorting facility.
The plan there is to convert the garage into a micro-enterprise rental space and secure the existing Royal Mail lease.
Scottish Land Fund said this will “support the community to achieve more sustainable economic and social development”.
Finally Auld Skule (Recycling Unit) SCIO has been awarded £36,480 to take over ownership of the Auld Skule in Aith and to continue to run it as a charity shop.
Marie Bruhat, who chairs the Fair Isle Development Company, said: “The Fair Isle Development Company (FIDC) is thrilled to secure Scottish Land Fund (SLF) grant support to acquire part of this historical property.
“This now allows us to begin the project of transforming it into a modern family residence.
“Renovating this long vacant flat is an exciting first step forward for FIDC in community-owned asset management.
“SLF’s support has been vital, allowing the community to engage professional advice to plan and develop while advancing the project to secure its purchase.
“Our local action plan has ranked community-led housing as the priority for Fair Isle, the shortage of available housing is critical, and expanding housing capacity represents a crucial milestone for our island.
“Fair Isle boasts a thriving community and an exceptional way of life that we are excited to share with new residents.”
The Scottish Land Fund was originally established in 2001 with National Lottery funding.
Following the success of the original programme, it was re-established by the Scottish Government in 2012 and is now funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Scottish Land Fund committee chair Cara Gillespie said: “As we mark 25 years of the Scottish Land Fund, these latest awards are a powerful reminder of what communities can achieve when they have the opportunity to take ownership of the places that matter to them.”
Reflecting on its beginnings, director for Scotland for The National Lottery community fund Neil Ritch said: “When the Scottish Land Fund was established with National Lottery funding in 2001, community ownership was still a relatively new idea.
“Twenty-five years on, communities across Scotland have used ownership to create homes, jobs, businesses, greener places and stronger local economies.”
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