Strathdearn Community Developments (SCD) AGM, Tuesday 4th Feb, 2025 | 7.30pm | The Strathdearn

Statement from the SCD Board – Community Housing

Firstly, we hope whether via proxy, or in person, you will cast a vote on the resolutions being presented at our forthcoming AGM. 

We appreciate that a wide range of thoughts exist surrounding our housing project, and that votes will be cast in consideration of the project in its entirety, and not just in relation to taking on a  small element of debt financing as part of the projects’ funding (under 15% of total build costs). The need for additional housing has been long established and has been an objective of SCD since the first business plan was drawn up in 2013.

Including debt repayments, SCD funds are budgeted to pay for slightly over 55% of the total project costs with the balance coming from a Rural Housing Fund grant. Whilst we have done tremendously well to safeguard this award through the ups and downs of the project it is, we think, highly unlikely that it will be retained for the project should we not advance at this point.

Where the project does not proceed, it is possible that the site could be developed by another party and the community may have little say in what would be built there.

Please be confident that in building these six homes, and in making them available at a reasonable rent to members of our community, we hope that we will take a huge step towards reducing the need for young families to leave Strathdearn, or perhaps help those who have left to return.  

In addition to providing much needed additional housing, we expect the houses to generate an annual cash surplus that can support our community’s facilities including our shop, our cafe and our hall.  This would be a huge step towards creating a truly sustainable SCD and is a significant goal to aim for.

Recognising the questions that have arisen this week, we’d also like to clarify that a dedicated SCD employee will project manage the Design Team and Contractor. No additional external project management costs are envisaged.

In respect of the site, it is the only site available to us for housing and is well placed for development as it is close to existing services and utilities, indeed going back some years the Community Council had explored many other sites around Tomatin with none proving suitable. Planning concerns also supported a central site and the proximity to the school, shop/café/hall and bus stop all supported planning approval.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

With kind regards,

The Board of Strathdearn Community Developments