The development comes thanks primarily to the Scottish Government, the local Comhairle members, the landowner Mark Miller-Mundy, HHP’s preferred contractor Alex Murray Construction and the chair of the local Community Council Donnie Macdonald.

As part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to building new affordable homes in the rural areas, it has provided the highest level of grant possible to deal with what is a very challenging development. There are significant ground works required to enable 12 homes instead of six to be built and this was a major stumbling block in reaching a fundable project.

A number of changes enabled HHP to finally reach a position where a tender has been accepted and work will start once building warrants are obtained which should be this summer:

1. The mix has changed from 10 rented and 2 shared equity homes to 12 rented resulting in a higher level of Scottish Government Grant.
2. The projects in the Comhairle’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan will be changed to move 2 houses from a Stornoway project to Leverburgh.
3. The contractor’s price has been reduced.
4. The local councillors have used some of their Ward funding to assist with the funding gap and get the project over the line.
5. The Comhairle will also provide rent guarantee protection in support of the development. This is a contingency, and our hope is it will not be required.

Gordon Macleod, chair of HHP, said: “This has not been an easy project to get over the line, but I am pleased that at the end of an enormous amount of hard work on the part of many, we will now be able to cut the turf in Leverburgh and see 12 new homes completed in the next 18 months or so. I would particularly like to thank the Scottish Government for their support not just financially, but the time they have invested to make this work, the Comhairle for assisting with the funding gap and our preferred contractor Alex Murray Construction for working with us to identify suitable reductions.”

The two councillors for Na Hearadh, Councillors Paul Finnegan and Grant Fulton said: “For a range of technical reasons this has been a hugely challenging project. We appreciate the work that Government, HHP and Comhairle officials have put into making the project happen and we very much recognise the very significant levels of investment that has been required to make the project deliverable. We would also wish to thank Mr Mark Miller-Mundy and Donnie MacDonald, Chair of the South Harris Community Council, for their support and assistance. We are pleased that the Comhairle was able to make an important financial contribution to close the funding gap and make the project happen.

“It is hugely important for peripheral areas that new affordable housing is made available to support the community and to facilitate future development opportunities. Although the process has been long and, at times frustrating, we are pleased that this has been recognised and that this critically important development for both Leverburgh and Harris will now proceed.”