NUDC spent considerable effort in developing a project to meet the needs of the local community at the old Lochmaddy Hospital site. However, unfortunately the core aspects of the project proved un-viable, and the board of An Torc Ltd; the community group set up to drive the Lochmaddy Hospital project forward; announced that it was regrettably not able to progress the planned project. Philip Harding, chair of An Torc Ltd, said: “This project was reliant on commitment from a number of key partners to provide sustainable economic viability in the long term. Unfortunately not all these partners, for entirely legitimate reasons, have been able to bring the level of commitment to the project which it requires. The seven-strong board has therefore reluctantly come to the conclusion that the envisaged transformational project carries too high a level of risk for a small community group to progress.” The An Torc board reached its final decision by assistance from a number of co-opted members, as well as the local development officers of North Uist Development Company and the Comhairle’s regeneration officer.
After Lochmaddy Hospital closed in 2000 the property lay empty and was then sold by Western Isles Health Board to London Shetland Securities Ltd in 2008. The property remained boarded up, derelict, and unoccupied. Community consultation meetings were held in Lochmaddy during 2012 to see if the community supported the idea of purchasing the land and buildings. The following community ideas were being pursued and investigated fully during a Stage 1 Feasibility Study, completed in 2014:
"It would also not have been possible to get as far as we did without the support and guidance provided by The Lottery, HIE and the Comhairle, to whom we are very grateful. The current funders have been supportive of the final decision to withdraw from the project - one of the reasons for terminating now has been to avoid the unnecessary expenditure of further public money on this project. We also received valuable support from the Scottish Government’s ‘Community Right to Buy’ Unit and from Scottish Government ministers - Humza Yousaf MSP in fact visited the site during 2016. Finally we should acknowledge the interest of Lews Castle College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and HHP.”
The board of An Torc Ltd were in communication with the owners of the Lochmaddy Hospital site following the decision and the group offered, as a gesture of goodwill, to provide the vendors with some of the plans and drawings which have been created during the course of the project, showing what could potentially be achieved with the building.
The site has since been purchased by MacInnes Bros Ltd, a local company, and it is understood they are currently developing concepts for the site.
After Lochmaddy Hospital closed in 2000 the property lay empty and was then sold by Western Isles Health Board to London Shetland Securities Ltd in 2008. The property remained boarded up, derelict, and unoccupied. Community consultation meetings were held in Lochmaddy during 2012 to see if the community supported the idea of purchasing the land and buildings. The following community ideas were being pursued and investigated fully during a Stage 1 Feasibility Study, completed in 2014:
- Student accommodation for c.60 to 75 students on the Lews Castle College Art Course with Taigh Chearsabhagh and, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig residential Gaelic courses.
- Utilise Lochmaddy School as the educational centre for the arts and Gaelic courses - the hospital and the school could be linked by a new pathway and bridge.
- Provide housing sites - Hebridean Housing Partnership indicated they would look favourably at building on the site.
- Small business units for business start-ups and expansion.
- Renewable energy - potential wind turbine to produce electricity for the site and for export.
- Tourism - possibility of camping area, hard standings and hook-ups.
"It would also not have been possible to get as far as we did without the support and guidance provided by The Lottery, HIE and the Comhairle, to whom we are very grateful. The current funders have been supportive of the final decision to withdraw from the project - one of the reasons for terminating now has been to avoid the unnecessary expenditure of further public money on this project. We also received valuable support from the Scottish Government’s ‘Community Right to Buy’ Unit and from Scottish Government ministers - Humza Yousaf MSP in fact visited the site during 2016. Finally we should acknowledge the interest of Lews Castle College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and HHP.”
The board of An Torc Ltd were in communication with the owners of the Lochmaddy Hospital site following the decision and the group offered, as a gesture of goodwill, to provide the vendors with some of the plans and drawings which have been created during the course of the project, showing what could potentially be achieved with the building.
The site has since been purchased by MacInnes Bros Ltd, a local company, and it is understood they are currently developing concepts for the site.
