Carloway development is about to start next month

Carloway Community Association has been working to secure funding to redevelop the site since the local community took ownership of the buildings in 2017 following the closure of the school in 2013.

The £1m redevelopment is set to get underway in May with local firm Lewis Builders Ltd having been awarded the contract; the work is expected to take nine months.

Mairi Steele, Chair of Carloway Community Association said: “Getting to this point has been a very challenging and lengthy process involving several rounds of cost-cutting exercises and redesigns to try and make our project a reality.

“The redevelopment will ensure that the 140-year-old building will be a modern, fit for purpose building for generations to come. Plans include a community shop, a commercial kitchen adjacent to a refurbished hall, new office and meeting space along with a permanent home for Comann Eachdraidh Chàrlabhaigh and Urras Oighreachd Chàrlabhaigh.”

Project funders include Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, The Scottish Landfill Community Fund, The Robertson Trust, and Western Isles Development Trust.

Tighean Innse Gall are providing project management services and Anderson Associates are heading up the design team.