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!

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!

NWMCWC is pleased to share that the charity has recently secured two grants supporting key development projects for Ulva — the island’s new community landing craft and the revival of Ulva Church.

Over the summer, work has been underway to secure funding for the Ulva landing craft. The charity has now been awarded a grant from the Scottish Government’s Islands Programme to kick-start the project. This phase will focus on design, regulatory and licensing work, and developing a detailed business model — ensuring that when a vessel is built, it’s fit for purpose, built to last, and financially sustainable for the community. This preparatory stage will run until March 2026, creating a strong foundation for future funding applications to build the vessel.

At the same time, NWMCWC has also secured a grant from the CLLD Development and Improvement Challenge Fund to carry out a proof of concept study for reinstating Ulva Church as a community and multi-function space. This marks an exciting first step toward bringing the church back to life and will inform future funding applications for renovation and stabilisation.

To lead this work, the charity has appointed New Practice, part of Civic — a Glasgow-based team specialising in architecture, community development, and engagement. Their Place Lead, Samuel, will be visiting Ulva between 4th and 8th December to meet residents and explore ideas for the church’s future. NWMCWC intentionally selected an independent firm with no local affiliations to ensure the process is open and objective.

Both projects reflect the charity’s commitment to Ulva’s long-term sustainability and resilience.

More details about how the community can get involved in the church engagement will be shared soon.

Argyll & Bute Council’s announcement on Islands Programme’s funding

Keep up to date with progress in the garden by following the Facebook page below!

(20+) Ulva Community Garden | Facebook