Loch Duich Micro Eco Village gets go ahead

A project to revitalise the community of Loch Duich and the wider community in Lochalsh can be realised through the offer of funding from the Scottish Land Fund

The project, on the shores of Loch Duich will create five woodland crofts, affordable house sites, two business units, set up a community growing area, and work on a parallel project to develop six affordable housing units with housing partners on two Forestry and Land Scotland sites on the shores of Loch Duich.

Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust has developed this project aimed at regenerating and revitalising the local community and economy. The Scottish Land Fund has approved a grant of £166,72 to purchase two parcels of land at Ratagan and Saraig, Lochalsh, from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) through Community Asset Transfer (CAT) and appoint a Community Development Officer.

The need for the project was established through a large community survey throughout Lochalsh in 2021, which led to a Lochalsh Community Action Plan launched in 2022, a housing needs survey in 2023, and the Lochalsh Local Place Plan registered with Highland Council in 2024. Since first consultation in 2021, the community of Lochalsh has consistently identified affordable housing as its top priority to help stem the exodus of young people and families from the area. Access to land for growing and support for business, particularly through the provision of rental workshops, were also among the top ten priorities. This project seeks to take action on all of these.

Loch Duich Community Council had the vision that the forestry land should not be sold on the open market but retained as a community asset for community benefit. It asked Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust to drive the project, as a community council cannot own assets, and the two organisations have worked together to bring the project to this point.

Ann Campbell, who is both a trustee of Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust and a member of Loch Duich Community Council, commented:

“Loch Duich Community Council area has the most stark demographics of any community council area in Lochalsh, with a bigger proportion of people over retirement age and a smaller, shrinking proportion of children and young people.” When we first started this process in 2021, there were 16 pupils in Loch Duich Primary School. Now there are only 10. This project will help to regenerate our community and ensure younger generations are able to live and work here. Without younger people, communities find it increasingly difficult to survive, so this project will help give our community strength and a more positive future.

Maggie Byrne, Chair, Kyle & Lochalsh Community Trust, said: “We are delighted that plans to build affordable housing can proceed to the next level in Ratagan and Saraig. Affordable housing has been the top priority in our Lochalsh Community Action Plan, and the ability to deliver affordable house sites, small business units, woodland crofts, and a community growing area, alongside a parallel project to develop six affordable housing units with partners, is a significant step forward.”