Bute Estate is to undertake a major development project on the island, it has been announced. The news, unveiled by the Mount Stuart Trust, will transform the island's historic and unused buildings, as well as offer residential homes and self-catering holiday accommodation as part of the investment.

The three-year investment is being funded by an investment of more than £8m by the estate and will be one of the largest rural regeneration projects on a private Scottish estate.

Major elements of the project will include:

• Regeneration of multiple sites on Bute

• Innovative renovation of farm steadings

• Provision of homes to rent

• Self-catering holiday accommodation.

The new dwellings in the development would be designed as energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly contemporary homes of vernacular architecture, which would help maintain the heritage and character of the island. This will involve the use of locally sourced timber cladding and the recycling of original stone and slate wherever possible.

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The project will also include the renovation of existing buildings and the creation of hybrid units, combining the renovation of existing buildings with the addition of new contemporary elements. Where these options are unsuitable, new build homes would be developed.

Meanwhile the sites identified for development include Ambrismore, Lubas Steading, Quochag and Woodend.

The project will run in conjunction with the estate's Accelerated Refurbishment Programme which upgrades estate-owned properties.

More than £600,000 was spent on the first phase of this programme which was completed in 2012 and a similar sum is to be committed to this second phase.

Connie Lovel, Chief Executive of the Mount Stuart Trust, said: "This is a tremendously exciting initiative by Bute Estate and demonstrates our deep commitment to the social, economic and environmental fabric of the island.

"The project will provide homes of a high standard for existing residents and newcomers as well as enhancing self-catering holiday accommodation.

"The first phase of this project will involve the development of six sites with an additional five sites identified for the second phase (including the Mansion House in Rothesay) developing 11 sites in total.

"Due to the age and condition of the properties when they return to the estate following lengthy lease periods, there is often a need for significant upgrading and we look forward to making great progress in restoring as many of these properties as possible."

(JP/MH)