The Staffin Nurse’s Cottage in Clachan, which is almost 100 years old, has been bought from NHS Highland by Staffin Community Trust.
It comes after the new health centre opened in 2022 at Taighean a’ Chaiseil, which was delivered by SCT in partnership with the Communities Housing Trust and Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association.
That replaced the Nurse’s Cottage, where GPs from the Portree Medical Practice had treated patients for several decades and was originally used as accommodation for district nurses, but was no longer fit for purpose.
Six family homes were built at Taighean a’ Chaiseil but demand far exceeded supply and the need for further housing in the Staffin community is vital.
Richard MacDonald, director of estates, facilities and capital planning said: "NHS Highland has been proud to work alongside the Staffin Community Trust on the delivery of an excellent new health centre, as part of the wider Taighean a' Chaiseil development.
"The recent sale of the former nurses' house marks an innovative step towards providing additional housing in the area. One of the units will be made available to NHS Highland employees, supporting our commitment to affordable housing and helping us recruit and retain staff locally.
"NHS Highland has a strong track record of working with communities through the Asset Transfer Request Process, delivering much-needed affordable housing in areas of pressured need. The health centre at Taighean a' Chaiseil was the second health centre delivered to NHS Highland by a community company, and we also occupy space for a satellite surgery in a community-owned hall, helping to sustain vital local services in a rural area. These collaborations are exactly the kind of initiative we want to build on."
SCT chairman Calum MacDonald said the purchase was a major step forward. “We're delighted to get this over the line and sincerely thankful to NHS Highland for supporting the project," he said. "Housing is vital for our community right now, and for our future, and we're now looking forward to developing the site in close consultation with the community."
Mr MacDonald said SCT was grateful to the project funders including the Scottish Land Fund, Royal Bank of Scotland Social and Community Capital and The Highland Council. He added the long-term support from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and constituency MSP Kate Forbes was also crucial.
Councillor John Finlayson, chairman of the Skye and Raasay area committee, said: "I'm delighted to see the final handover of the Nurse’s Cottage in Staffin, and pleased that Highland Council was able to play a part in achieving this positive outcome, which I hope will see the start of more investment in affordable housing in the area.
"It is four years since Taighean a’ Chaiseil was opened, which was 21 years after any previous affordable housing was built in Staffin. With falling school rolls being a real challenge across all rural areas of Highland, including the Trotternish peninsula, it’s important that housing investment is promoted in places like Staffin and other parts of Skye to encourage young families to bring up their families here and I congratulate SCT for the work they have done to date to support this ambition."
Kate Forbes MSP said: “It has been a pleasure to assist Staffin Community Trust with their housing plans, and the purchase of the former Nurse’s Cottage from NHS Highland is a crucial step at the beginning of phase two of their project, Taighean a' Chaiseil.
“I am hugely encouraged by the determination of SCT members over recent years to progress their plans for affordable homes to support the need in the local community.”
Victoria Papworth, chief executive officer of Royal Bank of Scotland Social & Community Capital, said: “SCT shows what determined community leadership can achieve, from award winning housing to new business space and vital services for local people. We are proud to support them with finance that gives the trust the room it needs to deliver the next stage of its plans.”
The single-storey cottage was constructed in 1933, through a sustained period of local fundraising by the Staffin Nursing Association. This was 15 years before the creation of the NHS - when there was an unofficial local health service which people paid a contribution for medical assistance.
It was designed as accommodation for district nurses who worked in the community but importantly at that time no medical treatment was provided on the premises. Instead, the nurses worked throughout Staffin visiting people’s homes, predominately on foot or bicycle. It was effectively ‘key worker’ housing.
