The Applecross Community Company (ACC) is currently in the final stages of submitting an application to the Scottish Land Fund as it seeks to transform areas in the village to provide shelter for residents and to encourage others to move there.

Applecross is a small, rural community of 225 residents. Most of the land on the Applecross Peninsula is owned by the Applecross Trust, and there is now an opportunity to acquire land for community housing.

The Trust has granted its support to the community housing project, with an informal consultation in the community identifying 30 people who have said they would be interested in either renting or purchasing a property should the opportunity arise.

Three sites in question are:

• Front of hydro field
• Clachan
• Smiddy Wood

Roslyn Clarke, local development officer, said the plans have been years in the making.

She told the Press & Journal: “There is a lot of evidence of the housing need in Applecross and buying this land would be the first step to helping address those things.

“We have looked at three sites and we have done feasibility studies on those and we are at the stage of putting it out to the community to have the final little vote before we put in our application.

“We are still in negotiations with the Applecross Trust.

“The front-of-hydro field is a small site so that would help address the immediate need but we are looking for long-term sustainability of the community.”

It is hoped the creation of new housing would also help provide accommodation for seasonal workers during the height of the tourist season.

Miss Clarke added: “We don’t want to transform Applecross; we just want to create more opportunity for people to stay here.

“We have been working towards this for many years. There are lots of highs and lows and many hurdles along the way but it’s just remembering to keep on pushing and, as a community, we will achieve our goals.”