Stòras announce go ahead
for Lochboisdale regeneration

Stòras announce go ahead for Lochboisdale regeneration

At a full Council meeting on Thursday 13th October, CnES granted full planning consent for the £10m first stage of the Lochboisdale Regeneration project.

The project will be led by Stòras Uibhist in partnership with HIE and CnES. HIE has approved funding of over £5m, CnES £625k and a further £1.9m will come from ERDF. An application for £960k to the BIG Lottery Growing Community Assets fund has progressed to Stage 2 and the final £1m of necessary funding is being sought from other sources.

WA Fairhurst has been commissioned to complete ground investigation work and detailed designs for the causeways, breakwaters, fishery pier and marina that will be constructed by 2014. Raeburn Drilling, supported by MacAulay Askernish, will begin the ground investigation work on Gasaigh Island & Rhubha Bhuailte on October 17th. This will bring total spend so far close to £1m and allow the project to be put out to tender early in 2012.

A public meeting will be held during November to inform members of the community of the latest progress and begin the process of identifying the options for the next stages of the Lochboisdale Regeneration.

Angus MacMillan, Chairman of the South Uist community landlord, said: ‘This project, which was first discussed more than ten years ago, will revitalise Lochboisdale to be the thriving hub of South Uist that it once was. The new fishery pier will provide safer and expanded facilities for local fishermen, there will be first class facilities for visiting leisure sailors and the project will help improve the amenity value of the existing Lochboisdale village. With access to Rhubha Bhuailte and Gasaigh, there will be significant opportunities to attract new businesses to the area.’

Stòras Chief Executive, Huw Francis added: ‘Securing planning consent is a major milestone that reflects the hard work of the staff at Stòras Uibhist and the important partnership of the community company with HIE and CNES to deliver the aspirations of the community buyout in 2006. An Economic Impact Assessment of the project has estimated that the construction phase of the project will create 32 jobs and close to 100 long-term jobs in South Uist and Eriskay.’