Staffin developer rolls out welcome mat on new homes
Six families will open the doors to their new homes this month, after the handover date for an eagerly awaited north Skye community-led housing, health and business project was confirmed, writes Fiona Scott.
The three-bedroom homes at Taighean a’ Chaisheil in Stenscholl, Staffin, will be completed on Monday January 17.
It comes 23 years after the last affordable housing development opened in Staffin.
James MacQueen Building Contractors Ltd will then complete the new community-owned health centre and two business premises in February.
The £1.6 million housing, health and economic development was progressed by Staffin Community Trust in partnership with the Communities Housing Trust and Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association amid concerns about the lack of available accommodation locally for families, a falling pupil roll at Bun Sgoil Stafainn and the declining population.
Around 12 adults and eight children will call Taighean a’ Chaisheil their new home and SCT has paid tribute to the support received, including the Kilmuir Estate, the Stenscholl township and the Staffin Community Council, since the project’s inception back in 2014.
SCT director Donald MacDonald said: ‘The board of Urras an Taobh Sear is delighted to be nearing completion on a project that has taken seven years and has, at times, been fraught with challenges. At a time when we need more community empowerment, this project has shown how far we, as a country, are from achieving that.
‘The directors and staff of the trust must be thanked for their determination and diligence in seeing this through when fatigue and burnout could have easily given rise to a different outcome. We wish the new residents many years of happiness within these homes which are an important step towards community sustainability and growth.’
Ronnie MacRae, CHT chief executive, added: ‘Congratulations to SCT which has delivered this mixed development of homes and amenities that will enable a stronger, more resilient Staffin and provide a template and confidence for many other similar communities to follow.
‘CHT is delighted to have been able to support SCT, and key to success was the support of Scottish Government and Highland Council, alongside working with HIE and NHS to provide essential amenities that will improve social and economic opportunities going forward.’