Community ownership: case studies
A series of case studies of community ownership organisations across Scotland.
Urras Bharabhais
Asset: Barvas Estate, 34,580 acres, purchased April 2016
Website: http://www.urras-bharabhais.org/
Contact: David Macmillan dmac17@btinternet.com
Scottish Land Fund Grant – £750,000
Projects and activities:
Housing - the Urras is working with Herbridean Housing Partnership to look at potential social housing projects within the Estate.
Energy Efficiency – the company is also working with Tighean Insse Gall on an energy efficiency programme for existing houses, involving installation of measures and advice.
Fire Safety – working with the Fire Service and other community landowners to discuss what opportunities there would be to work with each other to provide safer communities
Main successes so far:
Renewable energy – Working with Community Energy Scotland on a project to supply electricity to the Barvas Hatchery, via a private wire.
Have secured funding from the Western Isles Development Trust and the Rural Energy Challenge Fund to develop a wind turbine energy generation system with local storage.
Deer/rabbit/goose management initiatives – the company is working with neighbouring estates and landowners to manage and control their numbers
Peatlands – have applied to Scottish Natural Heritage to appoint a project officer to carry out a feasibility study into peatland restoration
…and challenges?
Have been unable to secure funding to purchase fishing rights on the estate (currently being marketed along with some residential accommodation on the estate).
Contact
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback