The Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company ("EYCDC") is a community-based charity that aims to support the economic and social development of the rural communities of the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys in the Borders. EYCDC initially expressed an interest in the former farm buildings and a 2.06ha site at Kirkhope Steading once Buccleuch had secured outline planning permission, but the site was kept off the open market, allowing EYCDC to secure the funding required to purchase the site. In 2022, the development of five affordable homes was completed by EYCDC, which are now rented to local young families, along with seven energy-efficient workshop units.
Discussions with Buccleuch to purchase the Steading began in 2017, with work on site not starting until March 2021. The project had to be re-tendered due to the uncertainty and fluctuating prices associated with Covid-19, but despite the difficulties, the contract was awarded to a Borders-based construction company. The total project cost was over £2 million and employed 10 people on site for over 12 months, in addition to the EYCDC project manager. Increased costs and rising interest rates posed another challenge and required the renegotiation of the bank loan. Funding was obtained from Ecology Building Society, South of Scotland Enterprise, Scottish Borders Council, SSE Sustainable Development Fund, Scottish Government Rural Housing Fund, Scottish Land Fund, and a discount on the valuation from Buccleuch Estates.
EYCDC has supported the community by providing a solution to the lack of affordable rental properties in the area. This, in turn, will benefit the local school and the wider community by providing a larger workforce while enabling young local families to remain in the area. The 5 houses are rented at social market rent levels and have PV panels, a battery, and ground source heat pumps, making them affordable to operate. The business units address the need for both office and workshop space in the area, with 5 of the 7 spaces now leased. One space is used for hot-desking, and another space is available for community meetings and training. The adjacent paddock has been leased to a young local farmer, and the remaining space will be utilized for allotments.
The conversion of the old stone steading has revived two existing buildings, while retaining the original footprint and appearance of the farm steading. The EYCDC, with a large local membership, held several public meetings to ensure local support for the project. The houses and commercial units feature PV panels and battery storage, with the houses benefiting from ground source heat pumps linked to individual boreholes, and the commercial unit from an air source heat pump. The houses all have an EPC rating of A and are proving to be cost-effective to operate. Local tradespeople were engaged throughout the conversion, with local suppliers used wherever possible. The gardens are spacious, in harmony with the rural setting, and the allotment space will support local growers. The business units and co-working space provide workspace within the valley, reducing social isolation and providing an alternative to traveling to the nearest town.