Am Paipear

Local news from Uist

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • News
  • About Us
  • What’s On
  • Subscribe
  • Vacancy
  • Local news from Uist

SCF: Crofters’ house grant review does not go far enough

January 13, 2015

sheep

The Scottish Crofting Federation (SCF) has provisionally welcomed a review of the Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS) as long over-due but questions whether proposals go far enough to restore the scheme to its original efficacy.

SCF chair, Fiona Mandeville, said: “We have been pressing for some years for the rates of grant to be reviewed as they have long since fallen well behind actual costs faced by crofters building new homes on their crofts. In the ten years since the current rates were introduced, they have not been raised in line with escalating material costs. This has made it very difficult for many crofters, particularly the younger ones whom we all want to encourage, to have a home on the croft. There also used to be a government loan available which facilitated building. Despite a parliamentary committee recommending the reinstatement of the loan element, Scottish Government has flatly refused to consider it.”

The Scottish Government recently launched a consultation on the Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS). The scheme provides financial assistance for building and improvement of croft housing with the aim of attracting and retaining people in remote areas of the Highlands and Islands. In 2004 the CHGS replaced the Croft Building Grant and Loan Scheme (CBGLS) which had been helping to build croft houses since 1986.

The rates set at the inception of the CHGS in 2004 (£22,000, £17,000 and £11,500, geographically targeted) were based on the old CBGLS which itself had not been uprated since 1986. Ten years later there has still been no increase. In 2008 it was estimated that the rate of support had declined from 82% (in 1986) to 14% of total build cost. Inevitably this decline will have continued since 2008.

For the next 12 weeks, the Scottish Government is formally seeking views on the future shape of the scheme and its payment rates. The consultation will close on 31st March 2015.

Ms Mandeville continued: “While even minimally increased grant rates are welcome, a grant is just one component of funding a new croft house. There remains the significant hurdle of lenders’ reluctance to make a mortgage available to crofters, due to their lack of effort to understand crofting. We urge the Scottish Government to strengthen their good intentions on crofter housing by pressing mortgage providers to look again at finding ways to offer mortgages to crofters or to reinstate a government loan.”

“We recently wrote to the minister for crofting about the CHGS and raised it on the agenda of the Cross Party Group on Crofting that we secretariat,” Ms Mandeville added.

“We will be meeting the minister soon to discuss this, amongst other crofting issues, and we encourage crofters to respond directly to Scottish Government and our members to make their comments known to SCF to be included in the SCF response.”

Filed Under: Crofting, News Tagged With: Croft House Grant Scheme, Crofting, SCF

Consultation on Croft House Grant Scheme

January 6, 2015

croft

A consultation has been launched on the Scottish Government’s Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS).

The scheme provides financial assistance for the improvement and maintenance of crofter housing with the aim of attracting and retaining people in remote areas of the Highlands and Islands.

For the next 12 weeks, the Scottish Government is formally seeking views on the future shape of the scheme and its payment rates.

Crofting Minister Dr Aileen McLeod said: “Crofting is vital to communities, the economy and the environment in Scotland’s remote and fragile areas, and generated an estimated revenue of almost £86 million last year.

“By law, crofters have to live on or close to their croft which can present challenges in terms of availability and quality of suitable housing.

“We know those are major factors in rural depopulation and so by offering financial assistance for constructing and upgrading residential properties, the Croft House Grant Scheme is helping to attract and retain people in our remote, rural and island communities.

“The CHGS launched 10 years ago and although building costs have gone up, the assistance rates we are able to contribute have not. While I am sympathetic to the case for increasing the size of grants on offer I need evidence to make a decision that will benefit our remote and rural communities.

“That is why it is so important for as many people as possible to respond to this consultation.”

Filed Under: Crofting, News Tagged With: Croft House Grant Scheme, Crofting, Scottish Government

Recent News

  • New equipment store ushers in new era for Uist and Barra patient care
  • New endoscopy unit opens at Ospadal Uibhist agus Bharraigh
  • International military exercise set to get underway off Hebrides
  • Uist ladies ‘Celebrate the Cailleach’ for International Women’s Day
  • Crofting Commission: Iain MacIver elected for Western Isles
  • South Uist hero at Iraq and Afghanistan memorial unveiling
  • Success for Sgoil Lionacleit STEM Club
  • Local Government Election 2017 – Notice of Election
  • Allan says Scotland must have choice over future
  • CMAL gives update on new ferry construction

News Categories

  • Art
  • Crofting
  • Energy
  • Fishing
  • Health
  • Heritage
  • Letter
  • Local Government
  • Music
  • News
  • Renewable Energy
  • Sport
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Training
  • Transport
  • Vacancies
  • Weather

SEARCH

Search our website

DEADLINES

Do you have a story for Am Pàipear? Would you like to submit a letter or acknowledgement?

See our list of deadlines:

Deadlines

ADVERTISE

Opportunities to advertise in Am Pàipear and on this website are available.

See our size and price guides:

Advertising Guide

Rate Card

CONTACT US

T: 01870 603299
E:
editor@ampaipear.org.uk
Enquiry Form

41 Airport Road, Balivanich
Isle of Benbecula
HS7 5LA

Copyright © 2021 Am Paipear · Website & Design by Skyewebsites