A small group of Skye based artists/musicians/architects/designers/writers/makers are setting up a housing co-op to buy a very large property with several buildings on the island. The plan is to convert it to 6 or 7 architect designed, high quality, self contained homes. In addition there will be a group gallery/meeting/social space, and private studios/workshops/office space for the members. We also envisage some accommodation spaces for visiting international artists and residencies, supporting a connection to An Tuireann’s residency programme. The site has slipway access to the sea and 11.5 acres for organic growing and developing domestic scale renewable energy sources for the co-op. The range of private accommodation runs from single person apartments through 2 and 3 bed homes to 4 bed bungalow. Studio spaces will all have power, water, and drainage and sizes can be tailored.

The housing co-op will raise a mortgage with an ethical bank to buy the property. Each member will therefore have £1 liability, and own jointly as a co-op member while also being a tenant. The mortgage repayments are covered by affordable rents for each house which are set by the co-op members themselves. Members on low income are eligible for housing benefits in the usual way. Members with capital (and outside supporters) can invest loan stock in the housing co-op to help finance the development. Capital investments are repayable with competitive interest rate added, on the member leaving, or at the end of an agreed term.

The group are putting together more information to send out shortly. They are not looking for firm commitment at this stage but need to establish a pool of interested people who might want to join in as this exciting project develops. If you think you might be interested in living and working in such a place, or being involved as a supporter please get back to them quickly, c/o An Tuireann, so that they can gauge the potential interest.

Jane Jeffrey, Director, An Tuireann Arts Centre, Struan Road, Portree, Isle of Skye IV51 9EG
tel: 01478 613306  e: janejeffrey@antuireann.org.uk