Tony Crosbie Scottish Land Fund Operations Manager Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Scottish Land Fund 3 Runs from April 2016 - March 2020 Programme Headlines Increase in scale - £10m per year Increase in scope - extension to urban as well as rural Scotland
Programme Outcomes Communities will: Achieve more sustainable economic, environmental and/or social development through ownership of land and buildings Have a stronger role in and control over their own development Own well managed, financially sustainable land and buildings
2-stage process: Stage 1 – Feasibility/ Pre-acquisition Information gathering Feasibility funding Stage 2 – Acquisition Grants for acquisition Revenue funding To help investigate feasibility, sustainability and community aspirations around ownership of a particular asset. NB acquisition only, NOT post-acquisition development costs
Stage 2: Grants for Acquisition Grants based upon independent valuation not asking price Up to £1 million (Up to 95% of SLF project costs – average is around 80%) Match funding / negotiated discount An asset not a liability (immediate use/meanwhile use) If post asset development funding is required- are you speaking with other funders? Big Lottery Fund Community Assets / Heritage Funders/RIHF/ LEADER/ local trusts etc.
SLF 3 and housing projects Where SLF is being asked for acquisition and RIHF for development costs, applicants should: Discuss project in advance with the SLF Case Officer and RIHF Adviser Consider applying to both funds for feasibility/ pre acquisition revenue support.
SLF 3 and housing projects Can potentially support: Technical assistance costs prior to feasibility stage, or not fully covered by RHF stage 1 but required to present business case Land purchase at over affordable housing value and up to full market value Purchase of time-critical land/property that will not meet timescales of RHF NB- SLF can only support at Stage 1 if the site has been identified.
SLF 2 Rural Housing Projects Funded communities to acquire land for housing developments in Argyll, Highlands and W. Lothian. SLF 3 Housing Projects Approvals in Western Isles and rural South Lanarkshire with further 16 projects currently under development across Scotland. Mainly rural to date though urban projects welcomed for consideration.