NWMCWC

North West Mull Community Woodland Company

Public Notice: Ulva’s Larder Commercial Kitchen

North West Mull Community Woodland Company has recently received an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the use of a section of the hardstanding above The Boathouse (Ulva) for the establishment of a modular commercial kitchen, to be operated as a charcuterie and cheese production business by Ulva residents.

About the Proposal

The proposal involves the installation of a small, modular building to be used as a commercial food production facility, supporting the creation and sale of locally produced charcuterie and cheese products.

Proposed use:
Commercial kitchen supporting a resident-led food production business.

Community benefit:

  • Creation of a new island-based business and contribution to Ulva’s local economy
  • Potential for self-employment and future employment opportunities
  • Strengthening Ulva’s identity and reputation through locally produced food products
  • Supporting sustainable economic development aligned with the charity’s long-term objectives

Investment in the asset:
The applicants would be responsible for financing and installing the modular building and arranging all required service connections and regulatory approvals.

Agreement in Principle and Context

This Expression of Interest was received earlier this year. The applicants were working to a tight external grant funding deadline, and in order to support their funding application, the charity issued an agreement in principle confirming its willingness, as landowner, to permit the project to proceed, subject to securing funding, planning permissions, and all required statutory consents.

This agreement in principle was not a formal lease or legal consent, but confirmation of the charity’s support for the proposal in principle, enabling the applicants to progress their funding application.

The applicants have since received confirmation that their grant application has been successful. Based on their current programme, delivery of the modular kitchen unit is expected within the next 10–12 weeks, subject to planning and regulatory approvals being secured.

The Board took this decision recognising both the time-sensitive nature of funding opportunities and the significant potential benefits of supporting new resident-led economic activity on Ulva. As an organisation that relies heavily on external funding to deliver its own projects, the charity understands the importance of meeting grant deadlines and considers it appropriate to support island residents in similar circumstances.

Purpose of this Public Notice

This notice is being issued to ensure transparency and to inform the community of the agreement in principle that has been granted to support this proposal.

At this stage, the charity welcomes feedback and suggestions that may help strengthen the project, improve its sustainability, or support its positive integration within the island and its community. This feedback will be taken into consideration as the project progresses through planning, regulatory approvals, and formal lease arrangements.

The agreement in principle reflects the charity’s support for the proposal, recognising its potential community and economic benefits, while ensuring that appropriate processes and approvals continue to be followed.

All necessary planning permissions, regulatory approvals, and formal lease arrangements will still be required before the project can proceed.

Provide feedback

You are welcome to share your views on the proposal, including any suggestions that could help enhance its community benefit, environmental sustainability, or long-term viability.

Submit your own EOI

EOIs may be submitted at any time. If you have a proposal for using one of the charity’s properties, assets or land, you are welcome to get in touch.

Your EOI must address:

  • What the asset will be used for
  • How it will benefit the community
  • How it aligns with NWMCWC’s mission and values
  • Any relevant experience
  • Environmental or cultural considerations, if applicable

Key details

  • Deadline for EOIs and feedback: 5pm on 19th March 2026
  • How to submit: Send your feedback to admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk or post it to North West Mull Community Woodland Company, Penmore Mill, Dervaig, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QS.

Decision making process

The agreement in principle confirms the charity’s support for the proposal at a strategic level, enabling the applicants to progress their funding and business development.

Any formal lease or permission will remain subject to statutory approvals, formal agreements, and consideration of community feedback. The charity will continue to work with the applicants to ensure the project is delivered in a way that aligns with the charity’s objectives and benefits Ulva and its community over the long term.

Community feedback received through this notice will help inform that process.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Alicja Newbrook at alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Public Notice: Keeping of Pigs at the Old Sheep Shed

North West Mull Community Woodland Company has received an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the lease and use of the old sheep shed located on the hill above Bearnus Bothy, Ulva, along with the associated field area.

About the proposal

The received EOI proposes the following:

Proposed use: keeping of pigs, alongside repair and restoration of the existing building to support agricultural use.

Community benefit: 

  • Bringing a derelict and unused building and surrounding field area back into active use
  • Supporting agricultural activity on Ulva and contributing to the island’s economic sustainability
  • Providing raw materials for a proposed Ulva-based food production venture
  • Enhancing land management by restoring overgrown ground and improving habitat condition

Investment in the asset: the proposal includes private investment by the applicant to repair the building and prepare it for livestock use, ensuring its long-term preservation and reuse.

We are sharing this information to give the community the opportunity to provide feedback or submit alternative proposals.

Provide feedback

You can share your views on the received proposal or the use of the asset. Feedback will be considered before any decision is made.

Submit your own EOI

If you or your group have an alternative idea for using this asset, you are also welcome to submit your own EOI. To do so, you will need to complete an Expression of Interest Form, which is available for download below. Please see the News article posted on 12th February 2025, as it explains the EOI procedure.

Expression of Interest (EOI) in Community Asset Form v1Download

EOIs may be submitted at any time for other community-owned assets. If you have a proposal for using one of the Charity’s properties or land, you are welcome to get in touch.

Your EOI must address:

  • What the asset will be used for
  • How it will benefit the community
  • How it aligns with NWMCWC values
  • Any relevant experience
  • Environmental or cultural considerations, if applicable

Key details

  • Deadline for EOIs and feedback: 5pm on 19th March 2026
  • How to submit: Send your EOI or feedback to admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk or post it to North West Mull Community Woodland Company, Penmore Mill, Dervaig, Isle of Mull, PA75 6QS.

Decision making process

All proposals will be assessed using a scoring system to ensure decisions are fair and transparent. Directors or staff with any personal, family, or professional connections to applicants must declare these connections. While having connections will not automatically exclude them from the process, their involvement will be appropriately managed to ensure impartiality. This may include additional scrutiny of the decision or oversight by uninvolved directors.

If you have any questions or need further information, please contact Alicja Newbrook at alicja@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

We’re recruiting: Part-time Administrator

North West Mull Community Woodland Company is looking for a part-time Administrator to join the team and help support the day-to-day running of the charity.

This is a varied, home-based role, supporting a wide range of work across north west Mull and the Isle of Ulva — from light book-keeping and minute taking to general administration that helps keep things running smoothly behind the scenes.

We are a community-based charity delivering woodland, housing, heritage, infrastructure and environmental projects, and we’re looking for someone organised, reliable and comfortable working independently, who enjoys being part of a small and collaborative team.

Role details

  • 12 hours per week
  • £14 per hour
  • Home-based (applicants must live on the Isle of Mull or Ulva)
  • 12-month fixed-term contract, with potential to extend

Previous administrative experience is essential. Experience of working with charities or community organisations would be helpful but is not required, and training will be provided on internal systems where needed.

How to apply

Please apply using an online form (works on mobile and desktop): https://form.jotform.com/260334650111039.

Alternatively, you can request an application pack (Word document) by emailing admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Closing date: Friday, 20th February 2026.

Follow-up Community Survey: Ulva Church

Following the in-person engagement sessions held in December with Ulva residents and key stakeholders, the Ulva Church project has now moved into the next stage of community engagement.

As part of the work to develop a proof of concept for the repair of Ulva Church and its reinstatement as an important community space, New Practice are now inviting wider public input. Building on the initial engagement with Ulva residents and key stakeholders, this next phase focuses on prioritising and refining emerging ideas, and gathering feedback on early concepts.

To support this, New Practice has developed an online survey, which offers the opportunity to share your own views, as well as respond to feedback collected to date. The survey introduction also includes further background on the Ulva Church project and New Practice’s role.

You can access the survey via the link below:

Complete the survey here

It’s important that we hear from as many voices as possible who have an interest in the future of Ulva Church. If you’re able to complete the survey as soon as possible, it would really help support New Practice’s ongoing desk research. The survey closes on Sunday, 8th February.

Please help us by sharing this survey with your own community networks, and on any relevant social media pages. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Ulva House: From Ambition to Action

The new BBC Scotland programme Banjo and Ro’s Grand Hotel has prompted the charity to reflect on the long and sometimes complex journey Ulva House has taken since Ulva came into community ownership in 2018.

Every project is different, but one thing is consistent: bringing a large historic building back into use takes time, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt as circumstances change.

Finding the right future for Ulva House

Ulva House has long been recognised by the charity as one of the island’s most important assets – and one of its most challenging. From the outset, a range of potential future uses were explored, with a strong emphasis on heritage, community benefit, and long-term sustainability.

In 2020/21, the charity secured funding of almost £1.5 million for Stòras Ulbha, an ambitious project to develop Ulva House as a heritage centre. The project was well developed and ready to move forward.

However, as the project progressed towards delivery, the impacts of COVID and Brexit became increasingly clear. Construction costs rose sharply, supply chains became unpredictable, and – critically – it became apparent that the works could not be completed within the timescales required by the funders.

A considered shift in approach

A hospitality-based use for Ulva House – such as a B&B or small hotel – had always been one of the options under consideration.

Rather than the charity operating the building itself, a long-term lease model was chosen. This approach allows experienced tenants to take on the day-to-day running of the business, while the charity – and therefore the community itself – retains ownership of the building and responsibility for key structural elements.

Finding the right tenants was a crucial part of this process. The charity wanted partners who understood the realities of island life, respected the building’s history, and shared a long-term commitment to Ulva and its community.

Working together to bring the building back into use

Since agreeing the lease, the charity has worked closely with the new tenants, Ro and Banjo, to prepare Ulva House for its next chapter.

Ro and Banjo have approached Ulva House with a clear sense of care and responsibility, seeing themselves – like the charity – as custodians of an important historic building. Their commitment to looking after Ulva House and helping it play a meaningful role in Ulva’s future has been evident throughout the project.

As landlord, the charity has taken responsibility for a defined package of essential works, including asbestos removal, repairing the flat roofs (replacing the original copper covering with lead), and reconnecting the electricity supply to the building. Alongside this, Ro and Banjo have taken on all remaining external and internal works and the full fit-out – a substantial undertaking to transform a large historic building into a functioning hospitality business.

This has been a challenging but genuinely collaborative process, involving careful coordination, problem-solving and patience on all sides – particularly given the additional logistical challenges of working on an island off an island. The charity has been pleased to work with Ro and Banjo and has valued the constructive, open way the project has progressed.

Support that made this possible

This work would not have been possible without the financial support of Community Ownership Fund (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government), Green Shoots (Development Trusts Association Scotland), The Waterfall Fund, and Historic Environment Scotland. Their funding enabled the charity to address essential works, meet regulatory requirements, and move Ulva House from long-term uninhabited, deteriorating building towards its active use. Without this support, the property would have been at real risk of remaining empty for the foreseeable future.

The charity would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of Bakkafrost, who have provided free freight transport throughout the project – and to Ulva for many years. This support has been – and continues to be – of real value to the Ulva community, helping to make projects like this possible in a remote island setting.

The charity is also grateful to the wide range of professionals, contractors and tradespeople involved – from architects and surveyors to utilities providers and building teams – who have contributed their expertise and worked within the particular challenges of an island project.

Last but not least, the charity would like to thank all Ulva residents for the many ways they have supported the project along the way. From helping with transport and clearing out the building, to showing patience and understanding during what were at times busy and disruptive periods – that support has been genuinely appreciated. Projects of this scale inevitably affect day-to-day life on the island, and the goodwill shown by residents has made a real difference.

Looking ahead

Ulva House is now moving into a new phase. It will take time before the building generates meaningful income for the charity, and expectations remain realistic. However, the value of the project already extends beyond financial return.

After many years of planning, reassessment and careful decision-making, it is encouraging to see this important building back in use. The charity looks forward to continuing to work with Ro and Banjo and to seeing Ulva House contribute to Ulva’s future in the years ahead!