Crofters land cash windfall for housing

RURAL Secretary Fergus Ewing has announced that housing grants totalling more than £300,000 have been awarded to nine crofters across rural Scotland.

The money is awarded through the Scottish Government’s Croft House Grant scheme, which provides assistance to build new croft houses and improve the standards of existing croft housing.

This helps to retain people in some of Scotland’s most remote rural communities.

Announcing the latest award, Mr Ewing said: ‘The crofting way of life makes a very important contribution to the sustainability of remote rural communities.

‘The Scottish Government recognises this vital role and the difference that the provision of high quality housing can make to retention of people in crofting, both now and in the future.

‘This latest round of funding will make a real difference to those nine successful applicants and their families. In the past two years, 125 crofters from across all the crofting counties have similarly benefited from funding – totalling more than £4.2 million in grants. Since the start of 2007, more than £18 million of grant payments have been awarded and more than 900 homes have been improved or built under the scheme.

‘With Brexit just round the corner, this is an important juncture for crofting in Scotland. The Scottish Government is taking the bull by the horns in ensuring that crofters are valued and encouraged to keep on doing what they do in delivering low intensity, high nature value agriculture, particularly as this improves habitats and creates stunning landscapes, attracting tourism and delivering real economic benefits.’