**19 projects have been awarded funds in the latest awards from SSE Renewables’ Highland Sustainable Development Fund**
SSE has awarded £2.2m of funding from its Highland Sustainable Development Fund, with 19 community projects set to benefit.
The fund is provided for by SSE Renewables’ onshore windfarms in the region and supports community and charitable projects across the Highlands.
A key focus in this year’s awards is affordable housing and awards totalling £380,000 will enable 41 affordable and community owned homes to be built in Applecross, Assynt, Glendale, and Scourie.
Applecross Community Company received funding of £40,000 towards the construction of up to 16 affordable houses and four business units on a 2.3ha community-owned site. These will be powered by the group’s existing AppleJuice community-owned hydro-scheme.
"We are delighted that SSE Renewables’ Sustainable Development Fund continue to support us in tackling the affordable housing crisis in Applecross.
Chris Ward Chair of the Applecross Community Company
The Fund’s contribution to the planning and design costs of our new Sustainable Living in Applecross project kick-starts the development of community-owned affordable homes and business units which will help families stay within the area, provide opportunities for local enterprise, and contribute to our net zero ambitions.
This builds on the Fund’s support towards the construction of three all-access houses – An Toll Bàn – which were completed in 2022 and are tenanted by local residents in housing need. These were the first affordable homes to be built in Applecross for 18-years."
Communities Housing Trust were awarded funding of £150,000 towards the creation of six new homes in Glendale, Skye. The charity and The Glendale Trust are working together on the renovation of Borrodale School building, which has been empty for 15 years. The project will enable up to 24 people to stay in or move to the area.
"Skye has an urgent need for affordable housing. This community-led project will focus on transforming an eyesore into an asset, providing a mix of affordable tenures for the local community and supporting economic growth of the region.
Nicola Doctor Project Officer at Communities Housing Trust
The grant funding from SSE is invaluable to kick starting the conversion of Borrodale School. This is a huge milestone for this project and without SSE’s funding we would not be able to move forward. Providing affordable housing along with local jobs and skills to a small community will repopulate and regenerate Glendale allowing it to grow and thrive."
The Highland Energy Efficiency Programme, delivered by The Highland Council, was awarded £800k which will help the programme to deliver energy efficiency in households across the region experiencing fuel poverty.
Initially funded with £1M from SSE Renewables in 2022, it has delivered improvements in 220 homes to date. The new funding will enable it to deliver to 160 more homes, including those in remote and rural locations where the costs of installations are often higher.
"This significant funding will support the most vulnerable households in the region, helping them to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Councillor Raymond Bremner Leader of The Highland Council
The dedication of our Climate and Energy Team have been pivotal in attracting this crucial funding which underlines the importance of partnership working in addressing the challenging issues we face in the Highland region. I am delighted to see SSE Renewables' continued support of such a vital project."
"Alongside an ageing population, depopulation is a major issue for many Highlands communities.
Lord McConnell Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund Panel
A key factor driving people away is the lack of affordable housing for families and young skilled people in rural and remote areas. So our Panel has invested significantly in the development of new affordable homes, owned by local communities, to help turn this situation around.
We have also invested in the provision of energy efficiency measures for households in extreme fuel poverty, reducing energy costs for current and future residents. Altogether we hope the awards made will support sustainable and thriving Highland communities into the future."
Funding of £300,000 will sustain and expand education in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), the energy transition, climate change, and enterprise for young people across the region.
This programme will be delivered by a collaboration of Young Enterprise Scotland, Highlands Science Skills Academy, and Primary Engineer. Importantly it will support the ongoing provision of state-of-the-art learning facilities – The Newton Rooms - in locations from Fort William to Thurso, as well as online learning for teachers and pupils and related enterprise competitions.
Awards totalling £170,000 were made to set up new community transport services or to enable existing services to switch to electric vehicles.
"SSE is proud to support these valuable projects and services that are being developed and delivered by communities across the region to meet their pressing needs. Without the clean green power generated by our onshore wind assets, this would not be possible"
Morven Smith Head of Community Investment at SSE
Organisation | Funding Purpose | SDF award |
Highland Energy Efficiency programme | To provide energy efficiency measures for Highland residents in extreme fuel poverty. | £800,000 |
Applecross Community Company | To develop the “Sustainable Living in Applecross” project which provides affordable houses and business units on a community-owned site. | £40,000 |
Assynt Development Trust | To complete the first phase of 10 affordable housing units in Assynt. | £74,026 |
Communities Housing Trust (Glendale) | To provide 6 affordable houses in an area of severe housing shortage. | £150,000 |
Scourie CDT | To deliver a community led housing development in Scourie. | £117,000 |
Boleskine Community Care | To purchase electric vehicles for use by home care workers in the Boleskine community. | £31,100 |
Garve & District Dev Company | To purchase an electric vehicle to establish a sustainable, low carbon community transport service. | £53,000 |
New Start Highland | To purchase electric vehicles to support New Start Highland’s work with the unemployed and homeless. | £87,375 |
Local Energy Scotland | Towards the Highland Solar Connected Communities programme funding energy efficiency and solar energy systems in community buildings across the region. | £182,499 |
Wick Development Trust | To contribute to the build costs of a new accessible and energy efficient reception building at Wick River Campsite. | £60,000 |
Caithness Voluntary Group | To fund a community development officer post over two-years to support the development and delivery of community projects that will include net zero elements. | £60,000 |
Day 1 | To replace the social enterprise’s petrol-powered karting fleet with electric-powered karts. | £107,184 |
Science Skills Academy, Primary Engineer, and Young Enterprise Scotland. | To provide learning experiences relating to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), the energy transition, climate change, and enterprise for young people and their communities across Highland, and to secure a sustainable funding model for Science Skills Academy. | £300,000 |
Nairn River Enterprise (Green Hive) | To deliver the Net Zero Nairn environmental events and skills programme to reduce carbon footprints, improve the local environment, and enhance local employability. | £47,209 |
Knoydart Tree Nursery CIC | To complete the set-up of the tree nursery and contribute to running costs for the first two years of production, to establish a sustainable community business. | £33,326 |
Association of Northern Trails Scotland | To construct a pedestrian footbridge and people counters at Loth Burn, part of the John o’ Groats Trail. | £35,000 |
Kyle of Sutherland Dev Trust | To employ a project officer to develop responsible tourism projects and promote rail travel in the communities served by the Far North Line. | £20,510 |
Total | £2,198,229 |