Eco-village with crofts and affordable homes planned at loch

A community group has proposed creating an eco-village on the shores of a west Highland loch.

Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust has taken over part of a former commercial forestry plantation near Ratagan from Forestry and Land Scotland.

The trust has plans for affordable housing, woodland crofts and business units in the area on the shores of Loch Duich.

It said it hoped the new homes would attract young families and help keep the local school open.

Kyle and Lochalsh Community Trust was awarded £166,722 by the Scottish Land Fund to help bring land at Ratagan and Scaraig into community ownership.

It has been working with Loch Duich Community Council and Communities Housing Trust to develop the eco-village plans.

Six affordable homes for rent are planned at Ratagan as well as two business units, a community growing area and two woodland crofts.

In Scaraig there would be three crofts and two affordable house sites while another housing plot would be sold on the market to help fund the development.

Woodland crofts involve housing, common grazing land and the management of wooded areas.

They are governed by crofting and forestry regulations.

The trust's Maggie Byrne said the group was delighted to reach an "important milestone" by taking ownership of the two sites.

She said: "It is now three-and-a-half years since we first applied to buy the land at Loch Duich and there is still a long journey before us until we are able to welcome the first new tenants of affordable homes, business units and woodland crofts.

"However, these will be vital for the wellbeing and future sustainability of the area, retaining young people and giving new opportunities for livelihood."