£3 million funding “highlights critical role for Cnoc Soilleir” as the islands recover from COVID-19
Iain Stephen Morrison
Ceòlas chair Màiri MacInnes has welcomed a new financial commitment for £3 million from the Scottish Government for phase two of for Cnoc Soilleir and said it highlighted the critical role for the new centre as the islands recover from COVID-19.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed the investment on 24th March 2021, amid a succession of announcements made in the final hours in office for the current Scottish Government.
“We are talking with the Scottish Government and stakeholders all the time to identify opportunities to support Cnoc Soilleir. We are delighted to have secured this funding towards the second phase of development and believe it underlines how important Cnoc Soilleir will be as part of the local recovery from COVID-19,” explained Mrs MacInnes.
“We have reviewed and found that the design of Cnoc Soilleir, which is spacious with excellent ventilation, is very suitable for working post-coronavirus and that no changes are required to the design. In that sense, Cnoc Soilleir will be even more important as the islands seek to rebound from the impacts of COVID-19.”
Cnoc Soilleir will be a state-of-the-art institution for education, music, dance, culture and Gaelic and is being developed through a partnership between Lews Castle College and Ceòlas. Lews Castle College will deliver courses from the centre during the week in term time, while outwith core college hours Cnoc Soilleir will become the base for events and activities with Ceòlas.
Cnoc Soilleir will include classrooms and versatile teaching spaces for students with both Lews Castle College and Ceòlas. Plans for the centre also include a resource centre, recording studio and offices for both Lews Castle College and Ceòlas.
Cnoc Soilleir will be built to Passivhaus standards, with minimised running costs and CO2 emissions, and will improve access to formal and informal education and offer cultural engagement opportunities for both local residents and visitors to South Uist. It is envisaged the new centre will enable further growth in the Gaelic language economy in an area that is recognised as a key community for the revitalisation of the language in Scotland.
Local contractors, MacInnes Bros Ltd, started work on construction of the first phase of the new centre early in 2020. Phase one will see the construction of teaching and office spaces, while the second stage will comprise a bespoke auditorium and dance facilities. It is estimated the second phase will cost around £5 million to develop, with £3 million now secured from the Scottish Government.
“Phase one is on track and within budget, with completion expected before the end of 2021,” continued Mrs MacInnes.
“We have had designs finalised and planning permission in place for the second phase for some time, but we need to review now in light of increasing costs and interruption in the supply of materials as a result of COVID-19 and Brexit. However, if we can secure the remaining investment, our aspiration is to commence with construction of phase two as soon as the first stage is completed.
“Cnoc Soilleir will make South Uist an even more desirable place for people to live and work, in particular after the difficulties of COVID-19. Even with more opportunities for remote working, Cnoc Soilleir will further increase the appeal of a place where the Gaelic language is alive in the community,” concluded Mrs MacInnes.Cnoc Soilleir has received funding from numerous individual donors, Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
