housing
"I want to stay in the local area but there’s nowhere I can afford that is also suitable for my needs.”
“I’d come home in a heartbeat if I knew there was housing.”
“I just want a place of my own, here, where I belong.”
Does this sound familiar? We’re listening and thank you to those who shared their thoughts and experiences earlier this year. ​​A housing needs assessment was carried out across the Galson Estate area during summer 2025. There were 50 respondents for a residential survey issued and 12 respondents for an employer survey. Benchmarking has been carried out where practicable with an Outer Hebrides wide housing needs survey undertaken by Hebridean Housing Partnership (HHP) in 2021. In terms of the residential responses, results reveal there are a mix of 13 active movers who are seeking alternative housing solutions at present and another 15 potential movers who expect to need alternative properties over the next five years. Reasons for moving are varied but include lack of space, property condition, health challenges and greater security of tenure. There is demand from families for larger properties but there is also a noticeable cohort of single people requiring housing as well. The long term preference for those seeking to move is broadly to secure ownership of homes in good condition but various barriers have been highlighted, such as the suitability of properties on the market in the area. Unfortunately, the purchasing power of those seeing to move is generally low due to household incomes. It is clear that cheaper properties on the market to buy require significant improvement, whereas the improved/newer properties are unaffordable for many. Employers have indicated a very high turnover of staff in recent years and, whilst housing is not the primary cause, it does create problems for recruitment on occasion. Hospitality and care are two sectors where recruitment challenges are most prevalent. Employers have a preference for rental accommodation with private rental and social housing the two options that feature highest in their requirements.Various recommendations have been provided relating to the mix of any new house types and tenures to be built, creating opportunities for young people to remain in the area, advice for croft tenants to support first time buyers, increasing rental options for employers and delivering a promotional campaign to attract more people to live and work in the North Lewis area.​You can read the full report below.​​​​
Upper Barvas Housing plans
about
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (Galson Estate Trust) has announced plans for a housing and care development in Upper Barvas, as part of its long-term vision for the North Lewis area. Supporting our aims:
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Tackling Depopulation
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Expand the Working Age Population
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Support Independent Living
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Providing Affordable Housing
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Reducing Fuel poverty
We aim to create a mix of affordable and flexible housing options that meet the needs of families, young people, and older residents, providing live/work opportunities to support small businesses and attract more people to live and work locally. The project, has been split into five potential phases, the first of which is to deliver 8 three bedroom homes, the second, care facilites and community spaces, the subsequent phases would provide further housing should there be sufficient community demand.
Phase One: 8 three bedroom properties
The project aims to deliver:
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A variety of housing options – self build, family homes, small starter homes and extra care housing.
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Community and commercial spaces to encourage local businesses and activities.
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Tenures to include rental, open market and rent to buy options.​​​​​
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Proposed site location
Your questions, answered
We’re committed to being open and transparent, and we want everyone to have a clear understanding of our plans for the new development. Here are answers to some of the questions local residents have asked so far.
Why was this site chosen?
This site was suggested to us by Upper Barvas Common Grazings Committee in 2017 as they recognised the need for additional housing land to retain young people in the area. Community surveys over recent years continue to cite the demand for affordable housing on the westside of Lewis, rather than being focused on Stornoway, along with the need for care services for rural Lewis to retain our older population in their own communities. A number of potential sites were investigated by public agencies and community councils for housing and care facilities for Rural Lewis during 2018 and it was concluded that this site was very suitable.
What is being built?
The first phase proposes eight three-bedroom homes as well as the build of essential infrastructure such as roads, pavements and electrical services. A second phase would then provide extra-care (sheltered) housing, offering people who need some support the chance to live independently with help from on-site care staff and shared community facilities. This would allow residents of the west side of Lewis to stay close to their home communities.
The future phases also include flexible spaces that could host a range of activities, from small businesses and community workshops to polycrubs, childcare, or healthcare, offering benefits to people across the wider area.
There is also room for more housing in the future, which could be rented, sold, or developed as self-builds, depending on what the community needs.
How will this affect the privacy of my property?
The new properties will be well set back from existing homes. Where required, landscaping will be designed to respect and protect the privacy of existing residents.
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s this affordable or social housing?​​
This project will provide a mix of affordable housing options, rather than social housing. We are not a registered social landlord; social housing is already provided locally by Hebridean Housing Partnership, and we do not aim to duplicate their role. Homes will be offered through various models, such as mid-market rent, shared equity, or open market sale. Our goal is to give local people more affordable choices, helping them stay within their communities if they wish to do so.​
Will there be self-build opportunities?
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The site will also lend itself to self-build plots, which is why the north side of the access road has been left clear. Creating easily developed plots with services available should make self-building more affordable.
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Who are these homes for?
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In the long term, these homes are intended for the local community to rent or buy. An allocations policy will prioritise people with connections to the area, those who will use the property as their main home, and those working locally.​
How will this project be funded?
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The current costs of building are high so external funding needs to be sought to make the project viable. Due to the cost public funding is unlikely to be secured so other avenues are being explored. One of which is potential investment from SSEN. This could involve their workforce temporarily occupying the eight homes between 2027 and 2030, with no more than two workers per property. After 2030, the eight homes would be made available for sale or rent to the community. Other funding could be secured through bank loans and UOG’s own funds.
Will Northland workers occupy these homes?
There are no plans to offer any housing to Northland Power or its suppliers.
We welcome further questions; please contact office@uogltd.com or phone 01851 850411.
Rental Opportunity with Croft Tenancy
Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn recently had the opportunity to take on a croft in Knockaird following its renunciation by an absent tenant. This has created an opportunity to bring the croft back into active and purposeful use.
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With the rising cost of croft tenancies, it can be difficult for new entrants to begin crofting, particularly if they also need access to housing. In response, UOG is proposing to develop two homes, each linked to a croft tenancy, which will be available for rent. This will provide an affordable pathway for people looking to enter crofting while also securing a home within the community.
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The project is currently in the early planning stages and aims to be delivered by 2028.
Self Build Opportunities
Thanks to funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, alongside other community landowners, is developing plans to create affordable serviced plots within their communities. These plots are intended to support local families to build their own homes and help people remain in, or return to, their local area.
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A site in Borve is currently being investigated as a potential location for this project. If progressed, the development is anticipated to be delivered by the end of 2026.