​​​​​​​Ullapool Harbour project to benefit from Highland Coastal Communities Fund support

The Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Area Committee met today (Monday 7 March 2022) and Members agreed to allocate £80,000 from the areas Highland Coastal Communities Fund (HCCF) to Ullapool Harbour Trust.

The funding will be used by the Trust as part of a £4m plus project to deliver a fully accessible new Shore Quay area for local business support and development. As part of the improvements the Inner Harbour will be dredged to allow greater vessel access, provide 50 accessible pontoon berths for the local leisure sector, tourism vessels, fishing boats, visiting yachts and motorboats.

The project will evolve in tandem with a joint development to widen Shore Street and build a seafront promenade. This project has been brought forward by Lochbroom Community Council Promenade subgroup, Transport Scotland Roads and Ullapool Harbour Trust. The aim is to improve, safety, connectivity and amenity for all abilities.

The Highland Coastal Communities Fund is a fund designed to support economic regeneration and sustainable development around coastal areas in Highland. The fund is derived from revenue generated by Scottish Government Crown Estate marine assets.

Area Committee Chair, Cllr Ian Cockburn said: “This ambitious project is going to provide the biggest improvement to Ullapool for a long, long time so I’m delighted our Committee can get involved and provide £80,000 of funding from our allocation of the Highland Coastal Communities Fund. This is exactly the sort of project the fund should be supporting.

“We are talking about job creation opportunities and the expansion of existing business. Fifty new pontoons will certainly provide a great boost not just for Ullapool but for the whole of the West Coast and I look forward to seeing work start.”

HCCF 2022 funding will open to new applications later this year.