Islands Green Recovery Programme

ISLE OF KERRERA DEVELOPMENT TRUST

Community organisations developing new opportunities often face the challenge of breathing new life into traditional buildings. The Isle of Kerrera residents, in the Inner Hebrides, have been able to get their redevelopment off on the right environmental foot, thanks to the IGRP.

The fund has supported the Isle of Kerrera Development Trust (IKDT) with £94,000 to reroof and fit bespoke new windows to its 1870s former school building. Having been largely unused for 20 years it was cold, draughty, and barely habitable.

The group bought the existing building in 2019, and with significant investment required, IKDT faced the daunting challenge of raising over £500k. IGRP monies delivered through HIE came at the just the right time, enabling high spec Crittall windows to be fitted and the essential work to replace the roof to be carried out as part of Phase 1, making the building wind and water-tight and preventing further decay.

It’s a huge step forward in creating a user-friendly, flexible and energy efficient community space. Coupled with this, the group has acquired an area of land known as the ‘School Knoll’ on which they will site a marquee for larger community events and outdoor activities.  

Orkney Horticulture Cluster Feasibility

Supply chains for fresh fruit and veg can be challenging when you’re an off-mainland Orkney island. The IGRP funding is supporting a project across seven Orkney communities with £40,000 to explore innovative growing methods to boost productivity, and enhance local food security.

The project has carried out a joined-up community consultation and developed detailed feasibility studies for horticulture on North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Westray, Eday, Sanday, Stronsay and Shapinsay.

Community, academic and supply chain stakeholders have been involved in assessing markets, and reviewing the land, energy, horticulture and human capital assets of each island.

Open and covered systems of horticulture and potential enhancements have been investigated. This includes everything from additional light and heat, to more sophisticated trials of vertical farming techniques, including hydroponics - growing fish as well as plants in an integrated system. Eday has explored the feasibility of growing and processing microalgae as a protein supplement for cattle. Crop selection, including potential cash crops, have also been looked at with synergies drawn from across neighbouring islands.

Having identified the best solutions, detailed proposals are now being drawn up for new infrastructure.

Sleat Community Trust - Armadale Stores

A major redevelopment at the community-operated Armadale Stores in the south of Skye has been able to deliver a better, cheaper to run, decarbonised building at the heart of its community, thanks to the IGRP.

The fund has supported Sleat Community Trust to reintroduce decarbonisation measures which they had reluctantly been forced to shelve from their wider £1m project. Armadale Stores provides vital community services, including a petrol station, post office, grocers shop, Trust office and meeting space, and a small garage which is let to a private operator.

Enhanced specification and use of external, internal wall and floor insulation will deliver improved heat retention, with an air source heat pump (ASHP) and solar PV panels providing clean renewable sources of heating for the facility. The project is supporting the local green recovery and will realise renewable energy produced of 3,587 kWh/yr and CO2 savings in supported business of 9.8 tonnes.