Taigheadas
Housing
We understand that affordable housing provision is vital for our community to retain its young people and allow local economic growth. However, there are significant challenges to building houses in Harris, and it is recognised that partnership working is central to the delivery of housing projects.
A joint housing strategy has been developed through the Harris Forum for this purpose and we are ready to work with any and all partners to increase local housing provision.
Over the years, sites have been identified and land made available where feasible, most notably to Hebridean Housing Partnership, as the local housing association. This continues to be the primary method by which affordable housing is delivered in North Harris.
We have also built our own housing and currently own six units which are rented out to local families and young people at affordable rates. As and when these units become vacant, they are widely advertised in the community and there is always strong interest in the tenancies.
Given this demand, the North Harris Trust continues to develop more of its own sites, as well as working with partners to develop larger housing projects.
Although the estate is large, much of the land in not developable. Distance to existing services and croft regulation are often barriers to development. The high build costs, and lack of suitable funding, are also significant obstacles and an ongoing challenge to the realisation of these projects.
As an alternative approach to solving the housing issue, the Trust has created serviced building plots. This takes some of the risk from a new-build project and it is hoped will trigger local families to consider building their own homes.
Tigh an Urrais Flats
Creag Aonaich Houses
Scourst View Houses
