McGrigor gets positive response from Deputy First Minister on Rural Empty Properties Grant Scheme

Highlands MSP Jamie McGrigor has been in contact with Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon suggesting that the Rural Empty Properties Grant scheme could do with better publicity.

These grants are available to owners of vacant buildings in rural areas capable of being brought back into housing use to meet local needs.

The scheme began in 1998 but no applications were approved for Argyll until 2003-04 when it had its first one. Then it had nothing until 2006-07 when it had the highest ever batch of approvals for any local authority – 18. In 2007-08 it had four properties approved.

The total numbers of properties across Scotland approved for the grant since the scheme began is 101.

Jamie McGrigor has been a consistent supporter of the scheme, understanding well its potential value in areas like Argyll and across the Highlands and Islands. He wants: ‘to see as many redundant properties brought back into use as possible and that is why we (Scottish Conservatives) have always backed the REPG scheme. Many empty and disused cottages and steadings which can be converted are in those remote and rural districts where affordable homes for rent are so very scarce.

‘I am concerned that there appears to have been so little uptake of the scheme and I am keen to see it publicised more effectively and made as attractive as possible to potential private individuals, estates and housing trusts.

‘Concerns have also been raised with me about the length of time an application takes and I hope the Government will consider this and other operational factors in its review of the scheme.

‘I myself recently visited a very impressive steading renovation at Cladich in Argyll which took advantage of the REPG to create five cottages for affordable letting to local people’.

Nicola Sturgeon’s response was: ‘Jamie McGrigor raises an important point. The rural empty properties grant is a good mechanism for upgrading properties. I am more than happy to correspond with him to give him the details on the uptake of the grant. If he has any suggestions for how it could be better advertised or explained to people, we would be happy to consider them’.

Jamie McGrigor is now asking people who have used the scheme to get in touch with him to let him know about their experiences of it. He says: ‘I am keen to go back to the Cabinet Secretary with suggestions on how the scheme could be improved so would be very pleased to hear from people who have used the scheme’.

To respond to him on this, phone his office on 0131 348 5616 or email him at: jamie.mcgrigor.msp@scottish.parliament.uk

And if you have property of this kind, look seriously at applying for this grant. Jamie McGrigor feels strongly that this scheme has not achieved the potential it could do for Argyll and for the Highlands and Islands. The big point is that there is funding available but people don’t seem to be applying for it.