18th July 2025

Balnagown Estate Submits Pre-Planning Enquiry for New Crofts

This month saw Balnagown Estate submit a pre-application enquiry to the Highland Council Planning Department. The estate is looking to create new crofts in the Gharbad area of Edderton and is asking the council for advice as to whether future crofters will be allowed to build on a portion of the individual crofts.

The Process

A pre-planning application is a request for planning advice from a local council planning department. A planning officer will respond with a report giving advice that can be used by the applicant to amend or adjust an application. This service is provided to ensure that both the concept and detail of an application are less likely to be rejected before the expense involved in a formal application.

If this is approved, then the estate will apply to the Crofting Commission to have the land designated as crofts. The estate would hope that the Crofting Commission would complete this by Autumn 2025 with a view to having a lettings process thereafter at a fixed rent and premium.

A premium is an upfront capital sum that those looking to buy the croft would pay in order to secure the tenancy. The estate is looking to attract tenants that align with the aims of the project and as such all premiums will be at a fixed rate.

Balnagown will be creating 4 new crofts. It had originally been hoped that 6 new crofts would be possible but access and ancient woodland constraints has reduced this to 4. The crofts will vary in size and dimension. It is initially suggested that there be three 14 acre plots and one 28 acre wooded plot although this may be revised.

Our Aim

The estate’s aim is to provide land that will allow people to live, work and build their own homes, so that they may contribute positively to the local community. The estate would therefore require the tenant to de-croft a portion of the land, probably half an acre, to build their own home.

Any residential property would be subject to a rural housing burden which would be able to attach the house to the croft and prevent the croft from being used as a second home or holiday property.

The aim is for the land to remain as tenanted crofts. It should be noted, therefore, that these crofts will be let without the ‘right to buy’. Crofters will also be unable to assign the tenancy to any individual who is not a near relative. These tenancies will, however as with all crofts, form part of a crofter’s estate and be passed on to their beneficiaries as long as they are near relatives.

Further info

This project has been developed with the assistance of the Kyle of Sutherland Development Trust and Sutherland Community Partnership as well as the support and assistance of neighbouring croft tenants and owner-occupiers.

The project has received support from both local councillors, Edderton Community Council and the Scottish Crofting Federation.

For those requiring further information, or interested in applying for a tenancy please contact Balnagown Estate office on 01862 843601 or [email protected]