51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council has nominated four island projects in the area for a share of funding from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme.
Islands Programme funding
The Scottish Government announced last month that Islands Programme funding of £5.3m would be available for the 2025/26 financial year to fund capital projects on inhabited Scottish islands. At a meeting of the council’s Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee, councillors agreed to put forward the following projects for consideration:
| Project | Project lead | Islands Programme request | Total project value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Former Royal Hotel, Rothesay - Detailed design works | Transformation Projects and Regeneration | £400,000 | £6,200,000 |
| Community Digital Hubs (Phase 2) | Strategic Transportation | £100,000&²Ô²ú²õ±è; | £100,000&²Ô²ú²õ±è; |
| Unlocking Ulva – Community Barge Project | North West Mull Community Woodland Company | £200,000 | £200,00 |
| Skerryvore Lighthouse Shore Station - The Lighthouse Cottages | Hynish Trust | £225,000 | £300,000 |
The fund is open to all local authorities in Scotland with inhabited islands and will be distributed on a competitive basis. The council has been successful in securing £1.5m of Islands Programme funding over the last three financial years, which has helped to deliver flood protection, digital infrastructure, care facilities and housing enabling infrastructure on the islands of Mull, Iona, Islay, Tiree and Coll.
Carbon Neutral Islands
The Scottish Government has also announced a £1.4m fund to support the Carbon Neutral Islands (CNI) in their progression towards net zero.
This fund is only open to islands within the Carbon Neutral Islands Programme, of which Islay is one of only six Scottish Islands eligible for this funding. Islay Energy Trust has worked with the CNI Steering Group to prepare a Climate Change Action Plan, and last year it received £246,444 from the fund to deliver solar and battery storage solutions to seven community buildings on the island, whilst Islay Development Initiative received £142,285 to support its forestry project.
CNI funding will be distributed on a competitive basis for capital projects that support the transition to net zero. For the first time, the council put out a call for expressions of interest through the Aspiring Places platform, and eight projects have been submitted within the deadline.
Regeneration Capital Grant Fund
The Scottish Government recently called for expressions of interest for its Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, which were logged via the Council’s Aspiring Places platform. Thirty three projects, with strong regeneration outcomes, were submitted for consideration.
The Leader of 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute Council, Councillor Jim Lynch, said:
“We are committed to creating a sustainable economy in 51³Ô¹ÏÃâ·ÑApp and Bute that delivers shared prosperity and business growth through innovation and collaboration.
“With the right projects, and these funding opportunities from the Scottish Government, we can do that, and help to enhance our local area and create opportunities for our communities.â€
