"Substantial grant money awarded to facilitate the construction of less expensive houses in Scotland"
Community initiatives across Scotland are set to expand and enhance their services, thanks to funding from the Scottish Land Fund. The fund, which is supported by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, has awarded over £2,700,000 for eight projects across the country.
One of the recipients is the Evanton Community Trust, who are set to purchase land adjacent to the community-owned Victoria Diamond Jubilee Hall for extension and community support expansion. The Trust aims to create a hub for various community activities, including a café, community shop, and rooms to let, similar to the plans of Kingsbarns Community Development Trust. Kingsbarns plans to establish a community hub with the same amenities, along with a pub.
In Argyll & Bute, the Tayvallich Initiative received £565,608 to buy land for building affordable rent housing and environmental initiatives. Martin Mellor, Chair of the Tayvallich Initiative, stated that the funding will help advance plans for affordable rent housing and the promotion of Rural Housing Burdens.
Meanwhile, the Great Bernera Community Development Trust plans to convert a vacant industrial building into a social enterprise hub. The improvements at Corstorphine Community Centre (CCC) in Edinburgh may also include enhancing accessibility, as they received £960,000 to purchase Westfield House. With the funding, CCC will own Westfield House, allowing for internal improvements and continued provision of services.
Elsewhere, the Papay Development Trust will acquire two houses on the island of Papa Westry for affordable rent. The Bute Community Land Company plans to install a carpark on the Isle of Bute to improve accessibility.
The Eday Partnership will use funding to provide affordable housing on the island of Eday. These developments are part of the Scottish Land Fund's mission to support rural areas by providing funding for community-led housing projects and other developments to maintain schools and day-to-day economy.
Both the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have extensive experience of helping communities acquire and develop their assets for over a decade. The Scottish Land Fund reopened to applications in April 2016. These community-led initiatives are a testament to the power of local action and collaboration in driving positive change.
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