Bays of Harris group nudges closer to community buy out

The Herald Scotland

a day ago

Home to around 2,050 people and recently valued at around £1.3 million, it has been at the centre of years of local effort to wrestle it into community hands.
Now the Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd says it has finally reached agreement in principle with the estate owners, to buy it and begin moves to reverse a century of decline.
A farmer on Berneray, which falls within the Bays of Harris Estate
Described as a 'landmark agreement', it follows several months of 'constructive and respectful engagement' with landlord Rob Hitchcock and three other family members who share ownership of the estate, which includes a large area in the south of Harris and the Isle of Berneray.
The estate has 274 crofts in 28 townships and is said to generate £80,000-£100,000 a year from a diverse range of income streams including telecoms masts, fish farm leases, wayleave payments, minerals, sporting and croft rents.
However, like many islands in the Outer Hebrides, it has suffered a severe population decline and aging population since the beginning of the 20th century, along with concerns over a lack of affordable housing and investment.
In the past, the Hitchcock family, who took over the estate following the death of English industrialist Lord Leverhulme in 1925, had indicated that they would be reluctant sellers.
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That led to suggestions in 2022 from former drummer with the punk rock band The Buzzcocks, John Maher, that the land was being used 'like a pension fund'. Maher moved to the area from Manchester in 2002 with his wife, Helen, to become a photographer, car restorer and a key figure in the Bays of Harris Steering Group.
Rock star Derek Dick, also known as Fish, of legendary band Marillion, also lives within the estate.
The agreement to sell opens the door to the community submitting applications for funding, including a key application set to be made to the Scottish Land Fund.
Bays of Harris Estate includes land in the south of Harris and also the Isle of Berneray (Image: Getty Images) The application is expected to be supported by the Fund. Set up in 2000, it has helped communities across Scotland wrestle back a wide array of assets such as pubs, halls and lighthouses, as well as supported notable community buyouts among them the purchase of the island of Gigha, off the west coast of Kintyre, from private ownership.
Among its most recent awards was a £352,800 grant to residents of Glenuig in Lochaber to buy their local pub. The Glenuig Inn, now a ceilidh house, can trace its original structure to a historic inn burned down by government soldiers hunting for Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Locals at the Glenuig Inn have been given funds to buy their local pub (Image: Supplied) Others include £197,658 to buy three parcels of land on Rousay in Orkney for community facilities, tourism and a community-led island marina and £93,600 for community purchase of Fearn Abbey, one of Scotland's oldest pre-Reformation church buildings.
However, there was criticism last year when the Scottish Government cut the Scottish Land Fund by £3.9 million to £7.1 million.
Euan Galloway, chair of buyout company Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd, described the agreement with the Hitchcock family as a 'pivotal moment'.
He added: 'This agreement is a significant step forward and reflects a shared commitment to ensuring the long-term future of the Estate is shaped and stewarded by the local community.
'I want to express our sincere thanks to the Hitchcock family for their positive and collaborative approach, and to the residents of the Estate whose support and involvement have brought us to this point.'
The estate company has around 150 local members and associate members. It has called for more members to help drive forward the vision for the estate.
The development comes two years after the Bays of Harris community voted by 63 per cent to press ahead with moves to buy the land they live on. The vote, in 2022, had a turnout of 70 per cent.
The result prompted a shift in stance from the estate owners, with landlord Robert Hitchcock, whose grandfather bought the estate, indicating he would proceed with talks over a potential sale.
However, he raised personal concerns at the time about whether community ownership would work.
There were also suggestions that the estate owners might consider entering partnerships with the community-based company so they might either retain an interest in some of the estate or lease back certain parts.
Mr Galloway added: 'We are committed to keeping our community informed as we move forward with funding, due diligence, and, ultimately, the transfer of the Estate into community hands.'
He stressed that residents would have the opportunity to contribute ideas for the Estate's future, and participate in planning and development decisions.
Community ownership of the estate would help fill a missing link: both North Harris and West Harris estates are already in community ownership, accounting for 60 per cent of the Harris acreage.
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North Harris Estate which spans 25,900 acres and includes Scalpay Island and An Cliseam – Clisham – the highest mountain in the Western Isles, was purchased in 2003 with funding from Scottish Land Fund of £60,330.
The community also purchased the adjacent Loch Seaforth Estate in 2006.
In recent years, the community owners have created new affordable houses and business units, developed a rangers service and established Isle of Harris Mountain Festival.
West Harris Trust was formed in 2008 to purchase three crofting estates belonging to the Scottish Government, covering 18,000 acres of land with 119 residents. Since purchasing the land in 2010 the Trust has released land for housing, created a community hub and invested in several renewables projects to create an income stream.
The Bays of Harris estate was formed in 1925 when Lewis and Harris were split into lots and sold off following the death of the previous proprietor Lord Leverhulme.
English industrialist Lord Leverhulme bought the Isle of Lewis and South Harris in 1918 and 1919 The Hitchcock family purchased one of the lots which comprises 3 parts: the Bays on the eastern side of Harris, Northton on the west and the Isle of Berneray to the south-west, linked to North Uist by causeway.
According to a 2022 Bays of Harris steering group business plan, a community-owned estate could oversee construction of new houses, improve home energy efficiency and support investment in the estate's four community centres.
It also highlights potential to invest in the St Kilda Centre at Seallam, the Leverburgh marina and in heritage development projects.
The estate has a number of old structures and archaeological remains including blackhouses, standing stones, abandoned settlements and ancient churches.
It is also credited as the home of the 'Paisley Sisters', Christine and Marion MacLeod, whose training in weaving skills in [[Paisley]] led to the production of superior cloth and the birth of the modern Harris Tweed industry.