Community Assets and Housing Group

About the group:

The Community Assets and Housing Group, formerly the UCT Housing Working Group, has broadened its scope to focus on the management, protection, and development of community assets in the Lochbroom and Ullapool Community Trust, (LUCT) area. This change reflects the merger of the Housing and Regeneration working groups, bringing a more holistic approach to addressing housing, community spaces, and other vital resources, whilst minimising duplication of volunteer time and capacity.

The group recognises the importance of protecting existing community assets such as Isle Martin, Lael Forest, Morefield Football Pitch and Badcaul Primary, while also fostering new opportunities like community growing projects, enhancing rural skills, and supporting underutilised spaces.

Key Focus Areas:

Housing Initiatives: Continuing efforts to address affordable housing needs, including driving forward housing developments like the Dundonnell site, and supporting housing for key workers and housing with accessibility and supported living as it priority.

Community Spaces: Exploring new uses for existing spaces, promoting community growing initiatives, and supporting struggling facilities like with potential for collaboration and shared resources.

Volunteer and Skills Support: Protecting and enhancing the community’s human capital by offering training (e.g., hygiene courses and PVG certification) and developing a centralised volunteer resource or database.

Strategic Planning: Taking a comprehensive approach through tools like place plans, climate action plans, and feasibility studies to ensure community needs are met efficiently and sustainably.

Recent Progress:

• In January 2026, the group coordinated a detailed response to the planning consultation for 95 new homes in Ullapool, put forward by Highland Council. You can read our submission here.

• We successfully bid for a grant from the Highland Council to renovate and lease a new Depot facility that will help us to provide a better customer experience in the New Broom and offer more circular economy workshops to our community.

• We also negotiated with NatureScot to share their office building in Pulteney Street in order to provide secure and confidential offices and meeting space for LUCT project staff to work.