The Na h-Eileanan Iar Projects has been awarded funding from the Scottish Government's 2023/24 Islands Programme Grant Fund. The 2023/24 Islands Programme will be delivered in partnership with local government to support locally developed critical infrastructure projects which involve local communities, helping to deliver the NIP Strategic Objectives and critical, transformational impacts.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has been successful in attracting Islands Programme Grant Funding for four projects in the latest round. Outer Hebrides-Stornoway Campus in Lewis has been awarded £250,000, Acarsaid Harbour Development in Eriskay has been awarded £382,307, An Taigh Mor in Lewis has been awarded £78,350 and Seallam! Hebrides People Visitor Centre in Harris has been awarded £55,000. This is year 2 of the Fund which is applied for and administered by the Comhairle’s Regeneration Team.

Cllr Donald Crichton, Chair of Sustainable Development Committee, said: “The announcement today for IPF approvals is to be welcomed. It will provide the momentum to allow the capital projects to progress to a much more short-term timescale.”

“This award is great news for the Western Isles – four regeneration projects that have had a lot of community input over the years have succeeded in attracting significant funding which will now accelerate their development.”

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UHI Outer Hebrides

These planned works are to redevelop UHI Outer Hebrides to enhance their modern, high-quality learning and training facilities and enable innovative approaches to digital and distance learning, tailored to the specific needs of the communities of the Outer Hebrides. This will involve transforming existing spaces at UHI Outer Hebrides’ Stornoway campus to both increase the attractiveness of the campus for traditional, on-campus students and, through the integration of new technologies, enable a greater degree of outreach to more remote learners and island businesses. In addition, a range of mobile facilities and equipment will be established that will further enable outreach capability at the UHI learning centres in Uist and Barra.

Acarsaid

The Acarsaid proposal is to enhance the harbour facility by introducing an enlarged 33m steel-piled, concrete deck pier (extending the life of the facility by 50 years) and extending the in-demand pontoon provision by 18m, including an attenuator at the outer end for wave protection and larger vessel berthing. This will improve vessel unloading and address berthing demand from both static and mobile gear vessels. It will minimise idling times for unloading and steaming time to more distant berths, reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

An Taigh Mòr

The funding will progress the design of An Taigh Mòr, a Grade 2 listed building to RIBA 4, progressing design work to building warrant, planning interpretation in detail and preparing tender documents to renovate, extend and fit out the building for future use.

Seallam! Hebrides People Visitor Centre

This award will support to completion RIBA Stage 3 and 4 work to enable the refurbishment and extension of the existing facilities at the Seallam! Hebrides People Visitor Centre to be upgraded to provide a much-needed quality attraction in south Harris, which is community owned and run. The facility is already creating and sustaining local jobs, building partnerships across islands and once complete will kick start the economic regeneration of Northton township, creating transformational and critical infrastructure for south Harris.