With 2025 coming to an end, we thought it was important to update everyone on progress with our long-term goal to develop Camanachd Square for the community.

This is our overarching development plan that will see the area come into community ownership so we can reverse the lack of maintenance and investment that this area has seen for years.

Local businesses and families have committed their time and money to support this project and it is vital that Camanachd Square becomes the community hub that we deserve.

The current landowners FEI and their solicitors have been working, in co-operation with the Trust and our solicitors, to gather the necessary titles to submit to the Land Registry to enable the sale of the King George V to go ahead.

Essentially, FEI’s claim to the land is based on old documents that need to be modernised before the KGV can be sold to the community. This involves looking at all the surrounding land (which was previously also part of the same land historically owned by Clan MacDonald) to figure out the exact boundary of the KGV land.

Now that process has been done and a draft made for the Land Registry, we are hopeful this process can be completed by the end of March at which point the land will become community-owned.

We thank the community and Scottish Land Fund for their support for this project, and for FEI’s work to make the land transfer possible.

We particularly look forward to when we can display the banners of all the local businesses who supported us through the Sponsor A Square scheme.

The transfer of the old swimming pool site from the Highland Council to the community under the Community Empowerment Act has been complicated by the Council’s decision to use the land during its renovation of Tigh na Sgire. The Council are now requesting that the community not get the old swimming pool site unless a completion certificate is produced for their Tigh na Sgire renovation, so that they can continue to use the old swimming pool site during their works without the need for a lease.

Originally we were told the land was only intended to be used for temporary office accommodation, but this has now been expanded to anything relating to their works, which may include the dumping of building materials. We have asked for assurances that the land will not be contaminated by this process (the Council are aware that the land is planned to be a new kids playpark). We will update the community in more detail soon.

Despite it not yet being community-owned, the Community Centre is community-run and the Trust has been working with the Portree Community Centre Association to develop the building. This includes improving the toilets, and working with Business Energy Scotland in producing a feasibility study for potential energy efficiency and generation options on the site.

If you would like to book the Community Centre for an event, visit its page on our website.