Finderne Development Trust are celebrating Christmas early with the news they’ve been awarded funding to buy land on which to build affordable homes.
The trust has received £331,740 to buy 3.6 acres of farm land in Rafford in order to provide space for 10 affordable homes and two self-build plots, as part of an integrated project that will include co-working, allotments and a community orchard and retail space for local produce.
Brian Higgs, Chair of the Finderne Development Trust, said: “We still have a very long way to go to achieve our ambition of developing some much needed affordable houses for our community, but the support of the Scottish Land Fund is a critically important step in that journey. This next year is going to be very busy year in relation to the Brockloch proposal and this wonderful news gives us the very best of starts”
The grants are amongst 12 totalling £2.75 million that have been made to groups across Scotland in the current round of funding from the Scottish Land Fund. The programme is delivered in partnership by National Lottery Fund and HIE.
Cara Gillespie, Scottish Land Fund Committee Chair said: “From places where people can come together, space to get outdoors and vital facilities such as shops and land for affordable housing, the Scottish Land Fund is once again giving local groups the resources they need in order to strengthen their own communities.”
Sandra Holmes, Head of Community Assets at HIE, said: “These diverse projects are all fantastic examples of people taking control of local resources for the long-term benefit of communities.
Pictured are Brian Higgs, volunteer Chair of Finderne Development Trust, and Moira Dennis, one of the volunteer Directors of Finderne Development Trust, at the Brockloch site for the community-led affordable housing project in Rafford.