A Moray community has been awarded more than half a million pounds to help it realise its dreams of self-ownership.
The Findhorn Village Conservation Company will receive a £520,000 grant from the Scottish Land Fund to boost its bid to acquire part of the Novar Estate holdings.
The funding means the group is now several steps closer to achieving its ambition of owning the area, which includes 61 hectares of amenity land at Findhorn and 800 hectares of coast next to the village.
The land has been valued independently by the District Valuer at £575,000 90% of the funding they need.
Peter Hall, chairman of the Findhorn Village Conservation Company, said the group was thrilled by the boost.
“This is an exciting project for the residents of Findhorn,” he said.
“Owning and managing the land and foreshore will give community empowerment to the people. This will provide opportunities to both enhance and safeguard our unique environment for the benefit of all.”
Scottish Land Fund committee chairman John Watt said the organisation was pleased to see the people of Findhorn moving closer to their goal of community ownership.
“Initiatives like this give local people greater control of their own futures which also benefit future generations,” he said.
“I wish The Findhorn Village Conservation Company every success as they go onto the secure the final funding required to make their dream a reality.”
Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Aileen McLeod said she was “delighted” to see the latest round of Scottish Land Fund awards.
She added: “These communities have worked hard to identify land and develop plans for that land which will make a real difference to their long-term sustainability.
“I look forward to watching these projects develop and see the benefits that the Scottish Land Fund is bringing to communities throughout Scotland as the Scottish Government seeks to bring more land into community ownership by 2020.”