Working together with the Scottish Government, Taigh Innse Gall and the Comhairle, HHP has completed 38 homes this year.

Along with its partner agencies, HHP has said it is pleased to be demonstrating its pledge to retain affordable housing in a rural setting. HHP chair, Iain Macmillian said: “It is great to see another scheme being completed within our rural communities. This is a fantastic development with easy access to the local school and facilities.

“We hope this will help to retain and attract people to the area. I very much recognise the contribution of the Scottish Government, the Barvas Trust, the developer Calmax and CNES in making this happen and overcoming the challenges which developing in rural areas can present.”

Alasdair Allan, local MSP, added: “I welcome the completion of the Gleann Mòr housing development in Barvas, which will make a further eight homes available to rent as part of the Comhairle’s Affordable Housing Programme, in partnership with the Scottish Government. Access to affordable housing across our islands has never been so crucial, particularly in our efforts to combat depopulation and maintain a sustainable population demographic.

“I would like to congratulate all those at HHP, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Calmax Construction and Urras Bharabhais for all of their hard work to complete this project, and I hope that the availability of these new properties will be of great benefit to the local community.”

Councillor Donald Crichton, chair of the sustainable development committee, commented: “The completion and allocation of the Gleann Mòr, Barvas, development in April 2022, was a high point at the end of the previous Comhairle’s term, and the final year of the Local Housing Strategy 2017-2022.

“Our commitment to affordable housing remains strong, and we are keen to see the continuation of high quality homes being built across our islands, where there is need, in order to sustain and develop our rural communities. We are fortunate to work with excellent development partners such as Scottish Government, HHP, TIG, community trusts and building contractors. We thank them all for their contribution and look forward to effective partnership working in future.”

Shona Robison, Scottish Government secretary for housing, said: “I am pleased to see these homes completed and tenanted. Working with the Comhairle and Hebridean Housing Partnership, we are keen to strengthen our rural communities by building the right homes in the right places.

“Over the lifetime of the previous Parliament, we delivered more than 6,000 affordable homes in rural and island communities. Building on this, we have committed to delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, of which at least 70% will be available for social rent and 10% will be in our remote, rural and island communities.”