draft report - Scottish Crofting Federation

of £22,000, whilst in all areas would receive a RHOG of £34,000.
7 Conclusions
7.1. Housing Need
There are significant pressures on housing markets across the Highlands & Islands pushing up the price of
housing beyond the reach of many people on low and middle incomes and causing increased need for
affordable housing solutions through housing associations and low cost home ownership schemes. The
increased need for affordable housing is reflected in the increases in Communities Scotland investment in
the Highlands & Islands.
Housing pressure is particularly acute in Skye & Lochalsh, Easter & Wester Ross, Badenoch & Strathspey
and Inverness in Highland, and in Argyll. In the island councils there is relatively high housing pressure in
the main settlements of Stornoway, Lerwick and Kirkwall which are experiencing in migration from internal
and external sources.
In more fragile areas of the Highlands & Islands; such as the Outer Isles of Orkney, Shetland and much of
Eilean Siar, the availability of affordable housing is a key component in the regeneration of these
communities; in helping young families make the decision to remain in or return to their community.
Leavers have identified housing problems as one of their reasons for not returning to Lewis (Stockdale
undated), and it is thought that the supply of low-cost housing is a critical issue in retaining
population (Hope et al 2004 p3)
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7.2. The use of crofting land to meet housing need
Crofting land has been used to meet housing need since the creation of the crofting system. Croft land is
sub- divided, assigned, apportioned and decrofted to create land for house building. Housing pressure on
croft land has increased in recent years as increases in house plot prices have led more crofters to release
house plots to the open market through decrofting. The inclusion of much of croft inbye land within
settlement boundaries and the disuse of policies limiting development on croft land has increased the
number of planning permissions being given for housing on inbye land. The Crofters Commission contend
they are powerless to prevent the decrofting of sites which have been granted planning as the Scottish
Land Court has ruled they cannot act as a second planning authority.
Many crofters are concerned with the loss of inbye land for housing, and believe that it should be used
Houses on Crofting Land Rural Housing Service 2007
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