NWMCWC

North West Mull Community Woodland Company

House to rent on Ulva

North West Mull Community Woodland Company is pleased to invite applications for a 3/4-bedroom residential home at Ulva Pier.

The house sits close to the ferry landing and adjoining The Boathouse, with views across the Sound of Ulva. It has three standard-sized bedrooms and a smaller fourth bedroom/office, a spacious kitchen/diner, living room with wood burner, family bathroom, walled garden to the side and fenced garden to the rear.

We are now looking for new full-time, permanent residents to make this house their home and contribute to the long-term future of the island.

Living on Ulva is different from renting a standard property elsewhere, and applicants are encouraged to read all of the information carefully before applying. The house is in a central pier-side location, which can be lively during the main visitor season, and island living involves practical considerations around ferry access, deliveries, water, drainage, shared infrastructure and day-to-day travel.

Property and location details and photos can be accessed here: https://canva.link/ulvahouseatthepier. Alternatively, you can contact admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk for a PDF pack.

The property details include information about rent, charges, ferry access, island practicalities and services. We strongly recommend reading the full property information and Housing Allocation Policy before completing the application form.

Ulva Housing Allocation Policy:

Ulva Housing Allocation Policy v6Download

Housing Application Form:

Ulva Housing Application Form v2Download

The deadline for applications is 2nd August 2026.

Applications will then be reviewed by the allocation panel during w/c 3rd August 2026, with shortlisted applicants invited to attend a site visit and/or interview later that week or during w/c 10th August 2026.

Please share this opportunity with anyone who may be looking for a new home and interested in becoming part of the Ulva community.

For any queries, please contact: admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk

First house plot sale completed on Ulva

We’re pleased to share that the first house plot sale on Ulva has now been completed. The plot, near Bracadale, will become a future home for Lee, Al and Thomas, who are looking forward to making Ulva their home.

This is an important moment in Ulva’s long-term development. Since the community buyout in 2018, one of the aims has been to help Ulva grow again as a living, working island, with more people able to put down roots here.

For much of Ulva’s history, land and housing have either been in private laird ownership or, more recently, community ownership. This first house plot sale sits within that wider story. It’s a carefully considered step towards creating opportunities for people to build a home, become part of island life, and contribute to Ulva’s future, while the island remains in community ownership.

Lee, Al and Thomas have shared the following message:

Ulva is a very special place, and we feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to become part of its story. Our hope is to build a home that respects the island and its character, and to play a small part in helping Ulva continue to thrive.

We’re looking forward to getting to know the community and contributing wherever we can. We’ll be up and down over the next couple of years while we wait for Thomas to complete his GCSEs, then in two years’ time we’ll become full-time residents on Ulva.

We’re delighted to welcome Lee, Al and Thomas into the wider Ulva community, and look forward to seeing their plans take shape over the coming years.

You can find out more about Ulva’s long-term development plans by reading the Social and Economic Development Plan.

New funding secured for Ulva Church and island pathways

The Charity is really pleased to share that new funding has been secured to support two important pieces of work on Ulva: the next phase of the Ulva Church project, and improvements to how the charity maintains the island’s pathways.

Ulva Church: moving into the next phase

Following the completion of the Ulva Church Concept Study earlier this year, North West Mull Community Woodland Company has now been awarded support from the Argyll and the Islands Community Led Local Development Fund and the Architectural Heritage Fund.

Together, this gives us the funding needed to keep momentum going and begin the next stage of work: the technical development phase.

This is an important step, but it is not yet the start of major building works. Before we can move towards physical repair and restoration, we need to properly understand the building, what condition it is in, what work is needed, what permissions may be required, and what the likely costs will be.

This next phase will include the technical surveys and professional work needed to move the church from concept into a repair-ready project. This is expected to include measured surveys, condition and structural assessments, conservation and heritage advice, outline repair proposals, cost planning and advice on consents.

It may not sound as exciting as seeing scaffolding go up or works beginning on site, but this stage is essential. It will allow us to make informed decisions, apply for future capital funding, and avoid rushing into work on a listed building without the right information in place.

Ulva Church has always been more than just a building. It has been a place of worship, gathering and community life, and later served as Ulva’s community hall. Until it closed, it was the only indoor public community space on the island.

The Concept Study showed a strong desire for the church to return as a simple, flexible space for the community, with the potential to support occasional events that could help with its long-term upkeep. This next phase brings us closer to understanding how that can realistically happen.

Urgent stabilisation works

Alongside the technical development funding, CLLD has also awarded a small amount of capital funding towards urgent stabilisation works.

We hope this will allow us to address some of the immediate issues around water ingress and building fabric, helping to protect the church while the technical work is underway.

If the urgent works make it safe and practical to do so, we also hope this may allow us to reopen the church grounds and existing toilets in due course. This is still to be confirmed, and will depend on the condition of the building, access, safety and any permissions required.

We are very grateful to both funders for their support, and to everyone who has contributed to the project so far through conversations, surveys, ideas and encouragement.

Pathways funding also secured

In other good news, NWMCWC has also received a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund towards pathway maintenance on Ulva.

Ulva’s paths are an important part of everyday island life and the visitor experience. They connect people to the island’s landscape, heritage and walking routes, but they also need regular maintenance. On an island, even simple maintenance can become difficult and expensive if it relies too heavily on contractors, volunteer time or borrowed equipment.

This funding will help us purchase machinery and equipment to make routine path maintenance more manageable. The aim is to give the charity more ability to deal with some of the regular work in-house, including keeping paths clearer and responding more quickly when sections need attention.

It is a practical grant, but an important one. Looking after Ulva’s paths helps residents, visitors and local businesses, and supports the wider work of making the island more accessible, welcoming and sustainable over the long term.

Both of these funding awards are small steps in the wider picture, but they matter. They help us keep caring for Ulva’s buildings, paths and shared spaces in a practical way, while continuing to build towards the island’s long-term future.

Updated Expression of Interest Procedure

NWMCWC has updated its Expression of Interest procedure for community assets.

This procedure explains how the charity considers requests from individuals, groups, organisations or businesses who are interested in leasing, using, operating or purchasing assets owned by NWMCWC.

The original procedure was adopted in February 2025. It has now been updated to make the process clearer and easier to follow.

The main changes are:

  • the procedure now clearly separates charity-initiated EOIs and community-initiated EOIs;
  • EOIs will now be reviewed through scheduled Board meetings, rather than on an ad-hoc basis;
  • the process for community-initiated EOIs has been clarified, including initial Board screening;
  • the public notice stage has been clarified, including community feedback and the opportunity for competing EOIs where relevant;
  • the EOI form has been updated to request clearer information on the asset, location, access, financial arrangements, environmental considerations, experience, conflicts of interest and previous involvement with NWMCWC;
  • the wording now reflects that EOIs may relate to leasing, using or purchasing community assets.

The updated documents also make clear that approval of an EOI does not create a lease, licence, sale agreement or any other legal right to use or purchase an asset. Any agreement will only be confirmed once it has been approved by the Board and completed by both parties.

The updated procedure and EOI form are now available on the NWMCWC website here: Minutes & Documents – NWMCWC, or for download below.

Expression of Interest (EOI) in Community Asset Form v2Download
Procedure for Handling EOIs v2Download

NWMCWC also intends to make the EOI form available as an online form in future, to make the process more user-friendly and easier to complete.

Anyone considering submitting an EOI should read the procedure and Asset Use Principles before completing the form.

For any questions, please contact admin@nwmullwoodland.co.uk.

Public Notice: Proposal to Purchase a Plot on Ulva

North West Mull Community Woodland Company has recently received an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a purchase of a plot of land on Ulva, to build a small house, with an office/studio space.

About the Proposal

The proposal is to create a small, single-storey dwelling using natural and local materials where possible. The house would include an office/studio space, as the applicants currently run an architectural practice and have stated that they would hope to bring this work with them to Ulva, allowing them to live and work from the island.

The proposed plot of land is located to the east/south-east of Ulva House, on the track shown on the location map below.

Approximate coordinates: 56°28’25.8″N 6°09’00.6″W
What3Words: ///flame.unlimited.soon

The location shown is approximate and is provided for consultation purposes only. It does not represent a confirmed sale, lease, agreement or legal boundary.

The EOI also notes that a coastal location could allow materials to be brought to the site by water, reducing pressure on Ulva’s road and track network during construction.

Proposed use:
Small dwelling with office/studio space.

Community benefit:

  • Supporting growth of Ulva’s resident population
  • Allowing new residents to live and work on the island
  • Bringing an island-based business to Ulva
  • Potential to share practical architectural, renovation and building experience with the community
  • Creating a building which may support different forms of work or occupation in future

Environmental and design considerations:
The EOI states that the visual and environmental impact of the dwelling would be minimised through sensitive siting, modest scale, and the use of natural and traditional materials where possible.

Context

This EOI was first received in January 2026. Since then, discussions have taken place between the applicants and NWMCWC to better understand the proposal, the proposed location, and how the request should be considered by the charity to ensure transparency and alignment with its purpose.

The site has not previously been publicly advertised. NWMCWC is therefore publishing this notice to inform the community of the interest in purchasing the land, invite feedback, and allow any other Expressions of Interest for the same site to come forward before the Board makes any decision.

No decision has been made, and publication of this notice does not mean that NWMCWC has agreed to sell, lease or otherwise make the land available.

Provide feedback

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

Feedback may include views on the proposed use, location, access, environmental impact, visual impact, community benefit, land management, or any other matter you feel the Board should consider.

Submit your own EOI

If you or your group have an alternative proposal for this site, or nearby land, 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 here: Minutes & Documents – NWMCWC.

EOIs may also be submitted at any time for other community-owned assets. 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 or land would be used for
  • How it would benefit the community
  • How it aligns with NWMCWC values and Asset Use Principles
  • Any relevant experience
  • Environmental or cultural considerations, if applicable
  • Any access, financial, legal or practical considerations relevant to the proposal

Key details

  • Deadline for EOIs and feedback: 5pm on 25 June 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 and feedback will be considered in line with NWMCWC’s EOI procedure and Asset Use Principles.

The Board will consider matters including community benefit, environmental sustainability, alignment with the charity’s mission, financial viability, responsible land stewardship, community feedback, and the long-term interests of the charity and its assets.

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.

Any formal sale, lease, permission or other agreement would remain subject to Board approval, legal advice, valuation where required, statutory permissions, and any other checks considered necessary.

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.