The community is concerned about population loss as the £10.4 million Tayvallich Estate is put up for sale.

Posted by Elijah on September 17th, 2022

THE SALE of a £10.4 million estate off the west coast is an exciting opportunity to address depopulation and improve the natural environment, according to a community group. Glasgow Estate Agent have described the upcoming sale of the 3500-acre Tayvallich estate in Argyll as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity for potential buyers.

Members of the Tayvallich Initiative Steering Group, on the other hand, are attempting to raise funds for a community buyout of some of the land in order to address the area's lack of affordable housing. The property is being sold by Catherine Pollock's family, who inherited her estate after her death.

Pollock, a former social worker, worked for decades to preserve the estate's rare species.

which included marsh fritillary butterflies, juniper, otters, and Greenland white-fronted geese. She also planted a lot of native trees. The family has offered to give the community some land and a house on the estate, but campaigners are concerned that this will not be enough to prevent the area from becoming depopulated.

According to the National Records of Scotland, Argyll and Bute has lost approximately 5000 residents (5%) since 1981, with a further 2700 (3%) lost since 2011. By 2041, another 10% drop is expected. The estate is home to ten of the 17 affordable long-term rental properties on the peninsula in Knapdale.

'Charles has become king, with support for monarchy at an all-time low,' writes John Curtice.

The estate is being sold in 13 separate lots. There are concerns that if each residential house is sold separately, long-standing members of the community may be forced out and their homes converted into second homes or vacation homes.

According to a local, a community buy-out of the land could "transform" the area.

"If the community owned more land, we could build more affordable homes and provide workshops and studios," they said. It would also help us keep existing farming jobs and create new ones in starter farms or smallholdings, allowing us to produce more local food.