Six affordable homes open in Tomatin after years of community-led effort
01 Jun 2026
- Highlands and Islands
- Investment
Families, pupils and partners gather to celebrate a community’s determination to support solutions to the Highland housing challenge.
Six new community-owned affordable homes have opened in Tomatin, marking the culmination of an eight-year effort to tackle rural housing pressure in the Highlands.
Viaduct View, a development of six energy‑efficient homes available to rent at the Local Housing Rate, was officially opened at a community celebration in the village on 28 May. The homes aim to help people stay living and working locally, including families and workers who have previously struggled to find affordable housing in the area.
Delivered by Strathdearn Community Developments in partnership with Tomatin Estate, the homes are located between Inverness and Aviemore and respond directly to local demand for stable, affordable housing. In a small rural community, the addition of six homes plays an important role in sustaining population and supporting the long‑term viability of local services and employment.
The project has been driven by the community from the outset and reflects years of determination to address a growing housing challenge in the Highlands. Progress was supported by funding from SSE, Eneco and Glen Kyllachy wind farm operating in the area, alongside a major contribution from the Scottish Government’s Rural Housing Fund. Additional loan support from Social Investment Scotland (SIS) helped sustain progress and ensured that the development could move forward following earlier delays.
The opening event included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by refreshments at Strathdearn Hall and a tour of the new homes. The event was attended by local partners and organisations involved in delivering the project, alongside community members and invited guests. Pupils from Strathdearn Primary School were also among those in attendance, underlining the importance of the development in helping future generations grow up and remain within their local community.
The new homes build on a strong track record of community‑led projects delivered by Strathdearn Community Developments, including a community shop and café, an eco‑friendly events hall and a community woodland.
This project reflects eight years of commitment from the community and the people who supported us. Seeing these homes finished, and knowing they will allow people to live, work and raise families here, makes the whole journey incredibly rewarding. We’re very grateful to everyone who helped make this possible.”
Maureen McDonald-Cooke
Project & Development Manager at Strathdearn Community Developments
Chris Jamieson, Head of Investment Partnerships at Social Investment Scotland, said: “In places like Tomatin, a lack of affordable housing can be the difference between people staying in the community or being forced to leave. Viaduct View shows what’s possible when local people lead, and when the right support is in place to turn ambition into action. It's exactly the kind of community-led impact we've been working to enable over 25 years, and why expanding access to patient, flexible finance remains central to what SIS does.”
📷 Photography by Mark Courtney