Community affordable housing project begins in Skye

A project is underway to build affordable houses in north east Skye to help quell depopulation.The development at Stenscholl, Staffin, comes six years after a report highlighted the need for new homes to ensure the community’s sustainability, and 21 years since the last affordable houses were built.The £1.6 million development includes six three-bedroom homes, a health centre and two business premises.There have already been more than 10 expressions of interest in the new homes and six notes of interest in the business units.Staffin Community Trust (SCT) developed the project after concerns about the lack of available accommodation, the falling roll at local school Bun Sgoil Stafainn and the declining population.A recent economic report showed Staffin’s population had fallen by 6.6% between 2009 and 2013, from 608 people to 568, The Press and Journal reports.Donald MacDonald, a founding member of SCT, said taking six years to build six houses has been frustrating. The scheme has obtained £650,000 of Scottish Government funding.A crowdfunding campaign raised more than £7,000 for the project, with Gaelic singer Alasdair Gillies donating £3,000.