Developing Affordable Social Housing
Nurse's House Project Latest
Read the March 2021 update here.
The Nurses House Project formed in 2017 is a subgroup of the Strathglass and Affric Community Company working under their Terms of Reference. The Main Board Director responsible and Main Contact is Alan Hood at alan.hood@live.co.uk.
The former nurses house in the main street of Cannich consists of a single storey domestic dwelling with a flat roofed GP Surgery extension. The domestic property has been unoccupied for just under 20 years and is in a very poor state of repair with water ingress and temporary structural propping reqired to support the roof. The flat roof GP Surgery of non-standard construction was operational until 2 years ago and is also in poor state of repair.
Our Objective
The project aims to take Community Ownership of the Old Nurses House and GP Surgery property in Cannich using the NHS Asset Transfer process and a Community Expression of Interest has been lodged and acknowledged by NHS Highland and negotiations are ongoing.
Initial Option analysis has indicated that the preferred community use would be to redevelop the asset providing affordable social housing thereby addressing an identified need in the local area.
What is next?
The group are looking to raise funds to appoint a Lead Consultant who will co-ordinate the input of other professionals undertake further community consultation, further review of the Needs Analysis, Option Analysis and feasibility studies (co-ordinating Architect and QS Input) all culminating in a 5 Year Business Plan and an Initial Outline Plan for Delivery.
It is anticipated that Strathglass and Affric Community Company shall retain ownership of the property on behalf of the community and will partner with a Social Housing provider who will act as Social Landlord providing long term secure affordable rented home or homes.
An application for grant funding for the project will be made to the Scottish Land Fund in the coming months.
Documentatioon relating to the project can be found here.