St Kilda Viewpoint Project Update

The proposed St Kilda Viewpoint visitor centre at Beinn Riabhach on North Uist is now in its final pre-contract stages of development following an award of over £150,000 to community group Sealladh Hiort by HIE and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar earlier this year.
Detailed planning permission and a building warrant are now approved and the project design team, led by Fraser Architecture of Benbecula, have nearly completed the detailed construction drawings. The quantity surveyors Torrance LLP of Inverness are now preparing bills of quantities, and contract documents will be ready for the project to go out to tender later this year.
Exhibition designers, Mather & Co of Manchester, are now working on a detailed design for the interior displays through which visitors will learn more about St Kilda’s natural history and the historic links between Uist and the double UNESCO World Heritage archipelago, which lies less than 40 miles off North Uist’s north-west coast.
Located nearly half a mile from the public road up the slopes of Beinn Riabhach at an altitude of 250ft above sea level, the Centre has panoramic views out across the Atlantic ocean, and the main feature will be a 60ft long full height viewing window through which visitors can get the best possible views of Hiort, Boreray and the two Stacs on clear days.
The innovative building design, which has a mainly timber structure, is based on off-site pre-fabrication, thus minimising the amount of on-site construction time. It is also highly energy efficient to reduce carbon emissions and running costs to a minimum.
The timing of the final pre-contract tender process will be linked to a number of capital funding applications now submitted to both the Scottish and UK governments. The Sealladh Hiort project is also included in the Destination Development group of tourism infrastructure developments proposed for the Outer Hebrides within the Comhairle’s Islands Growth Deal 10 year funding package, which is now in its final stages of agreement.
Sealladh Hiort Chair Alasdair MacEachen said: “The Sealladh Hiort board was delighted to receive this award from HIE and the Comhairle to enable the Uist St Kilda project to complete all of the pre-contract stages of what will be Uist’s most important tourism investment for many years. Although the funding environment is challenging at present, we have received excellent support from officers in HIE and the Comhairle to ensure we have the best possible chance of success. And even if we are not successful this year, the project will be absolutely ready to take advantage of any future funding opportunities if and when they arise.”