Plans submitted for £4.5 million North Isles scheme

A project aiming to support and encourage heritage-based development and promotion of the built, natural and cultural heritage in Orkney’s North Isles has taken a further step forward, with Orkney Islands Council (OIC) submitting a finalised Round 2 funding application to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The North Isles Landscape Partnership Scheme aims to raise awareness of and conserve and enhance the distinct identities of Orkney’s North Isles through the delivery of a number of projects, with aspirations of making heritage more accessible, encouraging the involvement of young people and the sharing of heritage between generations. The total programme cost is anticipated to be £4.5 million.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) previously earmarked £3m funding for the project in a Round 1 pass, with OIC (on behalf of the scheme’s steering group) then required to submit more detailed plans to secure the funding.  A further £1.5m has been identified through the Round 2 development to support the delivery of the scheme.

North Isles Councillor, Graham Sinclair hopes that this application for funding will be successful.

“The North Isles are a relatively small area with a population of just over 2000 folk,” he said.

“Despite this they contain a diverse landscape, various communities who each have their own identity and history, a strong and established network of community groups and an abundance of natural, built and cultural heritage engrained into each island. A successful funding application will not only raise the profile of the North Isles but will also help create much-needed isles-based jobs and establish a four person project team.”

As well as a contribution from OIC, funding has also  been earmarked from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Historic Environment Scotland, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, and an in-kind contribution from the North Isles community groups. Months of development work have now gone into the application involving extensive consultation with isles residents and partner agencies to flesh out the plans.

Studies have also been carried out into the landscape and seascape, historic environment, heritage trails, active travel routes and biodiversity, as well as studies into the development of branding, monitoring and evaluation of the project. Potential isles projects detailed in the draft scheme include traditional skills training, educational programmes, wildlife recording and enhancement of isles heritage centres amongst others.

A decision on the application is expected in early March 2018.  If the full funding is secured the scheme will run between 2018 and 2023 and will build on the success of the award-winning Scapa Flow Landscape Partnership Scheme which ran between 2009 – 2012.

Full details on the scheme are available on the OIC website at http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/D/north-isles-landscape-partnership-scheme.htm