Crianlarich Railway Houses - Strathfillan Development Trust           Read case study The local community bought and renovated five empty British Rail houses in the centre of Crianlarich which are now let at affordable rents to local families.

Spittalfield, Perthshire                                                                               Read case study The Spittalfield village project is a unique rural housing initiative. The development consists of 12 detached bungalows built by local families with the help of Rural Home Ownership Grants (RHOGs) from Scottish Homes (now Communities Scotland). Alongside these, 4 semi-detached houses were built for East Perthshire Housing Association, providing much-needed affordable rented houses. The entire project was co-ordinated by Perth Housing Services. Overall development costs were £1 million. Each of the owner-occupiers received a Rural Home Ownership Grant of up to 40% of building costs from Scottish Homes. The rented housing was built with a Housing Association Grant from Scottish Homes. The project demonstrates how a group of people can pool their resources to deliver good quality new housing made more affordable because by working together greater economies of scale were generated.

Colonsay Housing Initiative                                                                      Read case study The Colonsay community took the initiative to improve housing opportunities on the island for local people and to provide housing for new families to the island. A Colonsay Housing Strategy was developed by the Rural Housing Service in partnership with the community, Colonsay Estate, Scottish Homes (now Communities Scotland), Argyll & the Isles Enterprise and Argyll & Bute Council. This will see the building of new housing association houses, the renovation of estate properties, support for self-builders and the development of accommodation for incoming families.

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St Maelrubha's Close, Poolewe, Wester Ross                                       Read case study The development of 12 affordable rented homes for local people in housing need in Poolewe by Albyn Housing Society on land made available by the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Durness Housing Initiative                                                                        Read case study The local community undertook a local housing needs survey which demonstrated housing need in Durness and successfully secured new affordable rented housing from Albyn Housing Society with the support of Scottish Homes (now Communities Scotland).

Argyll & Bute Care & Repair Project                                                         Read case study Argyll & Bute Care & Repair Project is the product of a unique development partnership between statutory agencies, housing associations, the voluntary sector and community groups. It is the result of voluntary and community organisations pushing the Council and other agencies to develop a new service to meet the needs of local people. The main aim of Argyll & Bute Care & Repair is to assist older and disabled owner occupiers and private tenants with housing repairs and improvements to help them remain in their own homes and communities. The objectives of the project are to reduce the level of Below Tolerable Standard (BTS) housing amongst older households in Argyll & Bute; help deliver adaptations and improvements to older and disabled households and to prevent older and disabled people from having to leave their own home. The project plans to complete 60 cases in its first year rising to 148 cases by 2003/4. It is planned that by 2003/4 the project will channel £1 M of grant assistance to older and disabled households in Argyll & Bute. Argyll & Bute Care & Repair Project will by the end of its first year employ 6 members of staff; Project Co-ordinator, 4 Care & Repair Officers and Project Administrator. The revenue budget for the project is £139,986 in 2001/02, rising to £194,813 in 2003/4.

Fair Isle Housing Partnership                                                           Read case study This project brought empty property back into use; renovated deteriorated homes; and built a new house, to provide much needed affordable rented housing, thereby helping sustain the community and contributing to the island economy.