Isle of Harris community given £1m to buy 11,000-hectare estate
Community ownership of the Bays of Harris estate is now within reach
A commuinity on the Isle of Harris is one step closer to acquiring an 11,000 hectare estate after it received a £1million cash injection to help secure the sale it has been trying to conclude for more than a decade.
Talks on a community buyout of the Bays of Harris Estate, which includes a large area in the south of Harris and the Isle of Berneray, have been ongoing since 2012.
The area, which is now home to about 2,050 people, was formed in 1925 when Lewis and Harris were split into lots and sold following the death of the previous proprietor, Lord Leverhulme. It was then purchased by the Hitchcock family, who remain the current owner.
However the lengthy process is due to conclude by the end of this year after the Scottish Land Fund awarded £1,082,680 to the not-for-profit company Bays of Harris Community Estate Limited (BoHCEL) to help the community complete the purchase.
The funding, which will be used to address long-standing issues surrounding housing and population in a fragile and dispersed community, is one of six cash awards totalling £2,197,924 that has been awarded today to communities across the country.
Euan Galloway, chairman of BoHCEL, said the funding will not only help cover the purchase of the land but also go towards a new manger for the estate, which is predominantly crofting and common grazing land.
“It’s great we have the funding now and great that we are in a position to move on and engage with the owners,” he said.
Mr Galloway said the initial focus for use of the land will be housing. Other areas including tourism and wider land management will also be explored when the estate falls under the hands of the community.
The land has been in the hands of the Hitchcock family, who have been described as “reluctant but willing sellers”, for the last century.
In 2022, a vote was held to gauge support for a community buyout of the land. The ballot saw saw 63 per cent in favour of it on a 70 per cent turnout, providing the mandate for negotiations.
More than 75 per cent of the Western Isles' population live on community-owned land.
Community Land Scotland's director of communities Dr Sally Reynoldswelcomed the new funding.
She said: "This is a huge step forward for the Bays of Harris Community Estate and fantastic news for the community. It has been a long process, dating back about 14 years.
"But this helps to secure the necessary funding to purchase the estate. The South Harris Community has great plans to prioritise housing and tackling depopulation. Time and again we see communities that own the land make the best decisions for the people. It will be truly inspiring to see the Bays of Harris moving to full community control."
Other community groups to have received money in the latest round of SLF funding include the Voe Community Development Association, which has been given £106,780 to acquire the B- listed Sail Loft in Lower Voe, Shetland from a private seller in order to create a heritage centre, low-cost tourist accommodation, café and workshop space .
Meanwhile, Quarter Community Hub in South Lanarkshire has been given £93,406 to purchase the B-listed Quarter Parish Church to provide a base for their community activities.
The Scottish Land Fund is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Gillian Martin, cabinet secretary for rural affairs, said: “Once again these projects demonstrate the scale and variety of ways the Scottish Land Fund can support communities, whether it is giving islanders greater autonomy, creating a much-needed heritage centre and workshop space or bolstering volunteering opportunities. It’s especially welcome to see the Bays of Harris purchase conclude after many years of hard work. It shows that perseverance does pay off, and I wish all the projects the best and look forward to hearing about their progress.”
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