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Community group completes successful purchase of Isle of Ulva

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Standing Stone on Ulva (Image: Rob Farrow)

The community of the Isle of Ulva and neighbouring North West Mull have successfully concluded negotiations for the purchase of Ulva Estate.

The North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC), which is recognised as a Community Body, launched a bid to buy Ulva a year ago when the present owner Jamie Howard decided to put the estate on the market.

The company applied for a Community Right to Buy under the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

It now aims to bring about social and economic development of Ulva for the benefit of the community with a key objective being to repopulate the island.

NWMCWC plans to:

  • Manage the estate to provide sustainable benefits for the community in the short to medium term and in the long term for future generations including the repopulation of the island.

  • Improve infrastructure e.g. improving the housing stock and other buildings, plots will be made available for affordable housing.

  • Revitalise and expand agriculture e.g. the existing farm will be re-let, new smallholdings or crofts will be made available.

  • Manage forestry sustainably and seek new opportunities e.g. options for Agro-forestry in existing woodland.

  • Unlock the very large tourism potential largely untapped at present.

  • Care for and promote the cultural heritage of the island.

  • Enhance biodiversity and conserve sensitive habitats and species e.g. establishment of an eagle hide.

  • Safeguard natural habitats of the isolated associated islands and skerries e.g. ranger led and self-guided nature trails and study activities will be developed.

  • Support marine industries, fishing and aquaculture e.g. reinstatement of abandoned and/or of new oyster farms will be evaluated, feasibility of mussel farming will be investigated.

    • Binding contracts were concluded last week and ownership will transfer on June 21.

    NWMCWC chair, Colin Morrison, said: “To say we are extremely grateful to all our supporters and to the various funding agencies, organisations and individuals would be an understatement.

    “We cannot thank everyone enough, not just for the financial support, but also the encouragement we’ve been given throughout the process. We have been heartened by the degree of interest and depth of support we have received from official agencies, commercial organisations and also private individuals at home and abroad.”

    Welcoming the news, cabinet secretary for land reform, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “This is ground-breaking news, not just for the local communities on Mull and Ulva, but for community empowerment across Scotland – with the first ever purchase of an entire island, using the Community Right to Buy legislation.

    “I would like to congratulate the North West Mull Community Woodland Company for seeing the sale through to its conclusion, and I was very happy to give the go-ahead to the Scottish Land Fund Committee to award them nearly £4.5 million. The Scottish Government provides the funding for the Scottish Land Fund and this was its largest award so far.

    “The community group can now press ahead with their ambitious plans to repopulate the island, and regenerate the local economy – with the benefits that brings to the wider Inner Hebrides area.

    “This is another example of community right to buy, which we expanded through the Community Empowerment Act in 2015, unlocking potential in communities throughout our country, and giving local people a say in their future.

    “The Scottish Government will continue to promote community land ownership and work to ensure that land in Scotland delivers benefits for everyone.”

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