THE TENDER for a contract to build a long-awaited affordable housing, health and business development in Staffin has been issued.
Contractors are being encouraged to bid for the project in Staffin which will see six three-bedroom homes, a new health clinic and business premises built.
The community-led project comes five years after a hard-hitting report was published highlighting a clear demand for housing in the district. Staffin has experienced a population and school roll decline in recent years, with the loss of families and young people from the district because of sky high property prices and a shortage of affordable properties.
Staffin Community Trust (SCT) is working in partnership with the Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust and Lochalsh and Skye Housing Association on the project. The development would be built on Stenscholl township’s common greazings, close to Bun-Sgoil Stafainn.
SCT is currently working hard to secure all the development funding required and a crowdfunding campaign raised more than £7,000 last month, with donations from almost 70 people.
Architect’s Impression of development.
The deadline for bids is January 30 2020. SCT issued the invitation to tender for the construction of the development earlier this month (5.11.19).
Six construction companies, three of whom are based in Skye, were invited to bid for the contract. The tender was also advertised in the West Highland Free Press and The Press & Journal to encourage as many bids as possible in a fully open process. The deadline for the tender to be returned is January 30th. SCT and its partners will then assess the submissions and hope to appoint a preferred contractor in February. Construction is scheduled to start in June.