After successfully purchasing land from a local landowner prior to the pandemic with support from the Scottish Land Fund, the proposed plan for the community-owned site is to provide six much-needed affordable homes on the site of Millburn Cottage in Inverie.

The existing cottage will be sympathetically renovated and converted into 3 dwellings, 2 new semi-detached and 1 detached home will be available for self-build. The rest of the site remains central to Knoydart Foundation’s plans for agro-forestry, sustainable tourism and their community development goals.

Having supported the community with the land acquisition, the Communities Housing Trust (CHT) has continued to facilitate the development process with the assistance of Rural and Islands Housing Fund Feasibility Funding and a loan facility from the Highland Council.

The project has the opportunity to further prove the success of community-led housing in Scotland’s rural areas and follows in the footsteps of other projects in Lochaber such as Arisaig Community Trust’s six affordable homes and three plots completed earlier this year with Scottish Government funding.

Millburn Cottage has lain empty since 2015 and it will bring a property back into use protecting its historic and cultural significance. The new housing is hoped to boost the primary school roll of the peninsula and provide much needed affordable housing for the local population who would otherwise have to move elsewhere despite Knoydart’s flourishing local economy boosted by community-owned assets such as the ‘Wee Hooses’ and the recently acquired and renovated Old Forge pub. 

In the summer of 2020, Knoydart Foundation undertook a community survey which showed a clear need and strong support for new homes for local residents and those with a need to live on Knoydart. Following a tender exercise, Catoe Brown Architects and Harley Haddow Engineers were appointed as a design team to progress a community design brief.

KF has outlined its commitment to providing new opportunities for the area, including future plans to increase local food production, and through its worker’s accommodation project integral to new developments such as housing and energy infrastructure.

Sara Donald, KF accommodation project manager, said: “We’re excited to reach this milestone in the project which will revive a well-known cottage and provide six additional homes, supporting the population on Knoydart and enabling the community to continue to flourish and grow. Local residents are very supportive of the plans and collaboration with CHT and the design team has been fundamental in getting to this point. We can’t wait to embark on the next stage of the project.”

Morven Taylor, interim CEO of Communities Housing Trust, said: “There’s a really strong sense of community in Knoydart and it is a very special place to visit, always with a warm welcome. The Knoydart Foundation have been committed partners in this project from the outset and they are dedicated to provide affordable housing and opportunities to help to grow and sustain their local population over time. The support of strategic partners has been vital in getting the project to this stage and we look forward to working on the development phase of this essential community-led housing project.”