Affordable housing development

Tighean Innse Gall has submitted a screening opinion request to the Comhairle for 12 affordable homes at Ferry Road, Leverburgh.

The request is to determine if the proposal requires a full Environmental Impact Assessment of its proposed development in Leverburgh.

It is proposed to develop the 2.36-hectare Ferry Road site over two phases and erect 12 single-storey semi-detached houses with air source heat pumps.

In their supporting information, Tighean Innse Gall states that the Leverburgh housing development forms a strategic part of Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar’s Strategic Housing Investment Plan.

It continues: “The development is important to the local community who have campaigned for new affordable housing in the area. This is largely due to the residents of the area being priced out of the private housing market, which has high demand for holiday accommodation and second home ownership. As such, this site has been identified as one of the few areas of land available in South Harris for social housing.”

The site is adjacent to the Leverburgh industrial estate and was once part of the Leverhulme development of the port.

New telecoms mast installation

Hutchison 3G UK Ltd is seeking planning permission to install a 25-metre-high steel lattice tower at Borve.

The proposed mast will require a 7 x 7-metre concrete base and associated ancillary works.

The proposed development will help improve 4G coverage and would be co-located with an existing wind turbine of a similar vertical structure and height.