Cape Wrath community buy out gets go ahead

The Scottish Government has approved the community buy out application for land and buildings at Cape Wrath. This follows the decision by the Ministry of Defence not to seek to purchase the land, which had led to concerns that access to the Cape would be restricted.

Commenting, the First Minister said: “The approval of the Durness Development Group application is a very welcome next step towards Scotland’s ambitious new target of a million acres in community control by 2020.

“If the community is able to go ahead and successfully purchase the land, it will secure a stronger local economy for the people of Durness and preserve one of Scotland’s iconic landscapes for generations to come.

“It will allow the local community to improve facilities for visitors; to bring significant buildings back into use; and to manage the land sustainably. Put bluntly, we would see more benefits for the local area rather than more land for bombing – the principal use the rest of the Cape is put to by the MoD.”

Durness Development Group also issued thanks to everyone that has supported the campaign so far and said it was now looking forward to the publication later in the Summer of a report which will provide an indication of what the public would like to see happen at Cape Wrath and will better inform any decision to seek to purchase the land.