Last weekend saw the first new tenants get the keys to four new affordable houses on the island – which has a total population of 124.

Saturday’s handover marked the end of the first phase of community-led housing development on the island. As well as the four affordable house for rent, a further two houses are available for low-cost home ownership.

The Colonsay Community Development Company (CCDC) has led the project which included building a further three houses for fish production company, MOWI, to accommodate company workers and thus boost the island economy.

Chair of the CCDC, Dannie Onn, said: “These homes will address a long-standing need for further affordable housing on Colonsay.   The community group and the  islanders have put a great deal of effort into this project.

“It has taken longer than we hoped, but to reach this milestone on Saturday shows what a small community can achieve with the right support. We wish all the new tenants and owners well in their new homes.

“As community-led homes, the allocations can directly address the needs of the island. The five new homes allocated so far will address current homelessness, where islanders have been forced to move away or stay in temporary or sub-standard accommodation.

“The new homes will also help towards reversing the demographic imbalance here. The school roll has dwindled to single figures over recent years. Losing its primary school would rip the heart out of any community.”

Like many Highland and Island communities Colonsay - and its small sister island, Oransay - has been blighted by second homes and short-term lets consuming much of the housing market.

That position will change as a second tranche of five family homes is to be built by West Highland Housing Association (WHHA).

“If we combine the housing provided by the Colonsay Community Development Company and the WHHA,” Dannie Onn said, “we will return Colonsay and Oransay to a position where there will once again be more permanent residences than second houses and holiday lets.”

Alongside housing CCDC has developed two new business units, one let so far, with the aim of encouraging more year-round employment in support of a sustainable resident community.

CCDC believes that the success of the current housing project will prove to be truly transformational for the resident community.

Community Land Scotland is the lead organisation supporting and promoting community land ownership. 

Development manager, Linsay Chalmers, added: “The housing crisis is a huge problem across much of rural Scotland. In many places, affordable housing would just not be built without the efforts of community landowners’ voluntary Boards. The community in Colonsay has done superb work and found great solutions to address the housing crisis on their island.”