New Homes @
The Mac

A unique opportunity to create new, community-led homes at The MacLeod Centre on Iona.

• WHY?
• WHAT?
• WHO?
• Get Involved

Why It Matters

Iona faces a critical shortage of secure, affordable homes. New Homes @ The Mac Project is a unique opportunity to create long‑term housing that supports families, key workers and the future of the island. This feasibility phase is where the foundations are laid, but nothing is decided yet.

Where are we now?

The project has entered a busy and productive phase, with design work, community workshops, technical investigations and partnership discussions all moving at pace.

Design & Feasibility

The Design Team completed a full site early 2026, gathering detailed information on the building, services, drainage and structural conditions. This work, alongside new surveys, is shaping two concept options - a conversion and a new‑build scheme - to be explored at community workshops on 1st April.Further condition surveys and ground surveys will inform how adaptible the current building is, along with cost, VAT implications, planning or other practical constraints being explored in detail to identify the best route forward.

Community Voices

Residents of the existing social housing and those seeking secure housing have provided clear, consistent messages: the need for adaptable layouts, good storage, porches, well‑insulated homes, accessible options, and a sense of a small, supportive settlement. These themes are now embedded in the design brief.

STRONG PARTNERSHIP WORKING

Engagement and dialogue with key statutory and landowning stakeholders, including NTS and Historic Environment Scotland is underway, identifying and informing key issues for the site.

Steering Group Momentum

The Steering Group continues to meet fortnightly. Recent work includes:

FUNDING POSITION

Feasibility funding of £100,000 from Argyll & Bute Council and £20,000 from Scottish Government Rural & Island Housing Fund is underpinning the work, supported by contributions from The Waterfall Fund, IHP and ICC.

• ← Back

About Us

The MacLeod Centre Steering Group emerged from a shared recognition across Iona’s community organisations that the island faces a pressing need for sustainable, affordable housing. In response, a Steering Group was formed, bringing together:

Iona Community CouncilIona Housing PartnershipIona Village Hall Community TrustMull & Iona Community Trust (MICT)

This group works in partnership ensuring that decisions are rooted in both local needs and wider community stewardship.Together, these bodies are guiding the project through its feasibility phase, with a strong emphasis on transparency, collaboration, and long-term sustainability for Iona.

• ← Back

Your Support Can Help

This feasibility phase includes essential costs; surveys, legal work, specialist assessments that are not always covered by standard funding routes. Additional support at this stage helps:- Strengthen the design brief- Reduce risk- Accelerate progress- Unlock future capital fundingWe’ve already secured £120,000. We need £40,000 more to finish the surveys, design work, and planning preparation that will unlock the next stage.Every donation, large or small, brings us closer to a future where:

• Families can stay
• Young people can return
• Workers can live where they work
• The school can thrive
• Iona remains a living island, not just a place to visit

If you know of funding opportunities, grants, or partnerships that could support this phase, your knowledge of connections could make a meaningful difference.

Please help us make this happen

Thank You!

on behalf of
Iona Housing Partnership
Iona Community Council
Iona Village Hall Community Trust

all images courtesy of WT Architecture

• ← Back