The Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust , Ardtornish Estate Company and Roderick James Architects created the Achabeag Partnership to build the first two prototype houses. The aim was to develop a sustainable and affordable house in a remote community. Having proved the concept, the plan is for self-builders, developers, local authorities and social landlords to deliver similar houses in other areas. Timber for construction was sourced from local forests and the insulation used recycled newspaper collected by local children.
Roderick James, architect for the project, said, ‘Suppliers such as Hager have helped enormously in developing such a solution by contributing products free of charge.’
The houses were built for a budget of £110,000 per house, of which £40,000 per house was accounted for by donations and free product.