Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

Loan scheme to build croft houses could be reopened

A ruined croft house
A ruined croft house

The Scottish Government is to consider reopening a loan scheme to help build and renovate croft houses.

Crofting Minister Aileen McLeod made the announcement in response to a consultation on plans to target and extend levels of support through the existing Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS). The CHGS was launched in 2006 and provides up to £1.4million in grants every year.

Proposals to change the scheme include changing the three geographical priority areas to two – one for island crofts, classed as higher, and one for non-island crofts, classed as standard.

As a result, it proposed a change in the grant rates from £11,500 (low), £17,000 (standard) and £22,000 (high) to £28,000 for the higher rate and £23,000 for the standard rate.

Ms McLeod said she had written to Holyrood’s rural affairs committee to confirm some proposals were being investigated further, including the possible reinstatement of a loans scheme.

“Feedback from our consultation has been extremely helpful and we are now refining our proposals to further improve this important scheme. For example, we are looking again at the geographical areas eligible for the standard and higher rate of grant under the scheme, and the appropriate level of grant. We are also considering introducing a more formal method of targeting the scheme to those who need it most,” said Ms McLeod.

“As a number of these changes differ from those set out in the consultation paper, I believe that it would be beneficial to undertake a further engagement with key stakeholders who responded to the consultation. This is expected to conclude in time to revise grant arrangements during this parliamentary term, with changes coming into force shortly after that.”

She said any move to reintroduce a loan scheme would be taken forward separately as this was not originally proposed in the government consultation.

Crofting Commission chief executive Catriona Maclean said: “The CHGS provides important financial assistance to attract and retain people in our crofting communities and also in helping crofters to fulfil their duty of living on or close to their croft so it is important that it is fit for purpose and helps crofters with a genuine housing need.”

Jamie McGrigor MSP, who convenes Holyrood’s cross party group on crofting, said: “Some crofters will be disappointed and frustrated that the Scottish Government has still to come to a conclusion on the new CHGS and confirm the final rates for the new CHGS but I understand that ministers want to finesse the new scheme in consultation with key stakeholders and that they are still committed to bringing in these changes in this session of parliament. I hope this proves to be the case as the review of the CHGS is long overdue.”