Funding for affordable housing project on Isle of Lewis

The Pairc Trust took control of the 26,775-acre Pairc Estate after a community buyout in December 2015, backed by £230,000 from the Scottish Land Fund.

Now the land fund is awarding the body £50,621 to purchase the former Elderly Care Unit at Gravir to renovate to provide an affordable family home for rent.

Angus McDowall, Pairc Trust chairman, said: “We are convinced the first step in tackling the population decline in Pairc is to provide affordable housing, and this is a priority for Pairc Trust.”

The trust is one of four organisations sharing in £174,638 from the land fund.

Kirkliston Village Hall Association has received £56,500 to buy land in the village near Edinburgh, Cairndow Community Childcare has won £37,000 to help pay for a new centre in Clachan, Argyll, and Crossroads Community Hub £30,517 for a planned community-led farm shop in Ayrshire.

The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the Big Lottery Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.