Achiltibuie proposal for 10 ‘vital’ affordable homes would ‘make a huge impact’
A ROSS-SHIRE community’s trailblazing bid to create a new stock of affordable homes could play a massive role in halting rural depopulation in a fragile corner of the county.
In what would be the first development of its kind in the area in half a century, hopes are high that proposals for 10 new affordable homes in Coigach could play a key role between “a thriving community and one that is not sustainable”.
A Highland politician yesterday flagged the massive difference such schemes in small areas can have and hopes are high it could inspire similar elsewhere in Ross-shire.
Coigach Community Development Company (CCDC) have put years of work into a plan to build new homes at the former Achiltibuie hydroponicum site, acquired in July 2023 with help from the Scottish Land Fund.
After a vote among Coigach residents in February, the proposed housing site was named Achagarry — meaning Field of the Garden in Gaelic.
The Achagarry proposal would see a total of six flats and semi-detached houses to be rented, as well as a four detached and semi-detached homes to be put up for “discounted sale”.
Achiltibuie, like many rural Highland communities, has seen a rising demand for affordable housing in the area. This struggle to secure affordable housing, often for young families, has resulted in some residents being forced to move away from the area.
As well as private gardens for each of the homes, the project would also see the nearby Tigh Geal ruins “stabilised and made safe, to form the focal point as a community and heritage garden,” according to Inverness-based architects Catoe/Brown.
In the planning application, Catoe/Brown state: “A range of house types will be developed that reference the traditional modest, quiet forms found in vernacular buildings in the Highlands. Simple pitched forms will be arranged to create sheltered outdoor spaces, open out to the vista and benefit from the sun.
“To ensure the development sits cohesively within the local context, a simple and well considered palette of materials and finishes will be adopted. Traditional materials such as render, timber, slate and metal sheet roofing will be proposed to complement the surrounding built form, with muted colours that sit well within the landscape and echo the simple, unfussy materials and vernacular language of traditional agricultural buildings.
“Materials selected will generally be from renewable sources (timber/stone) or can be recycled and reused (stone/slate or metal cladding).”
Seoras Burnett, member of CCDC, said: “Achagarry will provide 10, much needed new affordable homes in Coigach providing accommodation for social rent. This will be the first such development since Island View in the late 1970s.
“Situated in the heart of Achiltibuie, the development will allow around 40 people to either stay in the area, move into or back to Coigach. In a community of around 240 people this will be a significant contribution to arresting population decline, broadening the age demographic and hopefully supporting local facilities such as the school, shop, community hall and local businesses.
“The planning application has been prepared following extensive consultation with CCDC and the local community. The planning application will now go through its period of statutory consultation, and we will hopefully be able to move to the next stage in early 2025. Work is currently being progressed so that we will be ready to appoint a contractor shortly after planning is received and move to detailed design and construction with new tenants moving in early 2027.”
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MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Emma Roddick said: “It’s vital that we invest in affordable housing for our rural areas – just a few homes in a small village can make the difference between a thriving community and one that is not sustainable.
“If people of any age can expect to find a home in a rural area, many will choose to do so rather than being forced to move to the city. Rural Highlands holds highly skilled vacancies, and a lot of folk are on the housing list; every single new affordable home has a huge impact.”
The planning application for Achagarry is currently under consultation until October 15.
