KLCT purchased two sites at Ratagan and Saraig from Forestry and Land Scotland. The trust intends to build six affordable houses for rent and two business units, alongside five woodland crofts and a community growing area.

Two affordable house plots and one market plot will also be made available across the two sites, with a potential campsite at Saraig and a community space at Ratagan.

MAKAR was one of a number of practices that applied through the tender process facilitated by the Communities Housing Trust, with funding from the Scottish Government’s More Homes Division. As part of its submission, MAKAR developed a series of conceptual designs and visualisations setting out its vision for the project and demonstrating its approach to creating a thriving, sustainable new community.

After a rigorous selection process, MAKAR emerged as KLCT’s choice to bring the project to build-ready stage. The trust recognised MAKAR’s vision, methodology and strong alignment with the local challenges of depopulation, fuel poverty, the need for community infrastructure, and support for local businesses, alongside its commitment to community engagement, placemaking, low-carbon homes and creating places that are affordable to heat and live in.

KLCT chair Maggie Byrne said: “We felt that MAKAR’s presentation showed a strong awareness of local challenges of depopulation, fuel poverty, the need for community infrastructure, and supporting local businesses. We were also impressed by the firm’s commitment to community engagement, placemaking, delivering low-carbon homes, and creating houses that are affordable to heat and live in.” 

MAKAR chief executive Neil Edgar said: “We are delighted to have been selected for this project. We look forward to developing the trust’s plan further as we work through the design stages alongside the trust and the local community, helping to shape a place that reflects local aspirations and supports future generations.”

MAKAR will now begin developing these ideas further as it works through the design stages alongside the Trust and the local community.