£3m Western Isles Bid to Community Renewal Fund

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has approved plans to submit a 3m bid, covering 21 projects, to the UK Government’s Community Renewal Fund.

The bid plans were approved at special meetings of the Comhairle held yesterday, Wednesday 9th June.

Bids to the Levelling Up Fund were approved for submission in October 2021.

The UK Government launched two Funds in March 2021, the Community Renewal Fund (CRF) and the Levelling Up Fund (LUF).  The CRF is a one year pilot for the Shared Prosperity Fund and is primarily (90%) revenue.  Local Authorities have a lead role in terms of both Funds and as regards the CRF, bids of up to £3m are invited from Local Authorities, by 18 June 2021, with expenditure essential by 31 March 2022. It is anticipated that the UK Government will issue a consultation on the Shared Prosperity Fund later this year with a view to its launch in 2022.    

A total of 21 bids were received for the CRF and the following bids were recommended for submission:

  • Strategic Infrastructure Feasibility
  • Outer Hebrides Heritage Resilience and Development
  • Western Isles Employability and Skills Hub
  • An Lanntair
  • Port of Ness harbour Ltd
  • Sealladh Hiort
  • Harris Development Ltd - Leverburgh Marina
  • Harris Development Ltd – West Loch Tarbert Regeneration
  • Taigh Dhonnchaidh
  • Calanais 2025
  • Point and Sandwick Trust/Lews Castle College Innovation Centre
  • Horshader Community Development
  • Ionad Hiort
  • Urras an Taigh Mhòir

Comhairle Leader, Roddie Mackay, said: “It is fantastic that we have managed to get these bids together in a short space of time and I would commend all those in communities across our islands who have worked to make this happen. I would also thank our officers who again, in a short space of time, have worked hard in pulling these submissions together.”