Scottish Crown Estate £1.7m boost for the Western Isles

Coastal communities in Eilean Siar are to benefit from £1.7 million of revenue generated from the Scottish Crown Estate’s marine assets in the first year of devolved management.

Agreed with COSLA, the new arrangement means that 26 local authorities will receive an allocation from the net revenue of the Scottish Crown Estate based on each council’s share of the adjacent sea area.

Announcing Eilean Siar’s allocation, Land Reform Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I believe strongly in maximising the benefits of the Scottish Crown Estate for Eilean Siar and our communities across the country.

“The allocation of £1.7 million as part of a wider £7.5 million package to support coastal communities the length and breadth of Scotland is the latest step in achieving this.

“The new funding arrangement will see coastal communities receive 100% of revenue generated from the Estate’s marine assets out to 12 nautical miles, enabling them to better fund and support local projects and initiatives.

“This government is delivering on our commitment to bring financial benefits to communities from the Scottish Crown Estate marine assets and enabling more decisions to be taken at the local level.

“I look forward to seeing how councils use this exciting opportunity to benefit their coastal communities.”

The allocation of £7.5 million being made in 2019/20 for coastal community benefit in Scotland is higher than the funding that was previously available under the old Coastal Communities Fund (CCF).

Under round four of the CCF the total amount available to coastal communities in Scotland was £4.2 million for the overall period from 2017 to present.

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