Affordable homes planned by Wester Ross community development organisation

A Wester Ross community development organisation has unveiled plans to purchase land to create affordable homes and business units.The Applecross Community Company (ACC) is currently in the final stages of submitting an application to the Scottish Land Fund as it seeks to transform areas in the village to provide shelter for residents and to encourage others to move there.Applecross is a small, rural community of 225 residents. Most of the land on the Applecross Peninsula is owned by the Applecross Trust, and there is now an opportunity to acquire land for community housing.The Trust has granted its support to the community housing project, with an informal consultation in the community identifying 30 people who have said they would be interested in either renting or purchasing a property should the opportunity arise.Three sites in question are:Front of hydro fieldClachanSmiddy WoodRoslyn Clarke, local development officer, said the plans have been years in the making.It is hoped the creation of new housing would also help provide accommodation for seasonal workers during the height of the tourist season.