THE residents of a village in the Scottish Highlands which has fallen victim to depopulation over the last few decades are calling for “families, couples and individuals to help reinvigorate” their community.
The drive to bring new life to the East Sutherland village has been handed a huge boost after land was gifted for community development by Caledonia Forestry Ltd.
The development on the land at Edderton, a short stroll from the renowned Dornoch Firth, will include around seven affordable homes of mixed tenures, including discounted self-build plots.
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The Communities Housing Trust (CHT), who work closely with communities across central and northern Scotland to provide affordable housing and other amenities, are currently conducting two Housing Needs Surveys with the support of Edderton Community Council.
One survey is focused on current residents and people who live nearby, and one is for people who currently live outwith the area who would like to move in. The surveys will help dictate what homes and tenures are required on the gifted land.
Ewen Simpson, a local resident and farmer said: “We need young families, not just in Edderton, but across the Highlands.
“In Edderton in the 1970s we had a post office, a shop, we even had petrol pumps outside the shop at one point, and the pub, all of which is gone now, which does take the heart out of a community.
“That will all change again, we’ll get there again.”
Edderton, which sits around 5 miles outside Tain in Easter Ross, is the location of the Balblair Distillery. The area is also rich in cultural heritage, with several Pictish stones within walking distance.
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Ronnie MacRae, CHT CEO, said the community had been given a “rare and forward-thinking opportunity”.
He said: “With land available to build affordable homes, we now need to know who would like to live here and become a part of helping this village thrive again.
“It’s a rare and forward-thinking opportunity to repopulate a rural area, especially with increasing options for homeworking, new business start-ups and economic diversification.”
While the community are supportive of newcomers to Edderton to help village thrive again, the development will also cater for any existing local need from in and around the area.
Michael Brown, the chair of the Edderton Community Council, said: “Young families and jobs are the lifeblood of a community. Like so many Highland villages, the primary school has a falling role, and the local church is on the verge of closure.
“The CHT has thrown us a lifeline to our future. We have already worked with them on a recent housing project which is almost complete, with the tenancy allocation awarded to two young families.
“We would like to welcome new people to our village, so this is great news for us, and we are so grateful to the CHT.”
If you’d like to be part of helping Edderton thrive into the future and could genuinely see yourself living in this rural village, or already live in the vicinity, please complete the Housing Needs Survey here: www.chtrust.co.uk/surveys
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