The economic clearances

An open letter published this week by community leaders describes the housing market on Scotland’s islands as driving a form of ‘economic clearances’ with house prices being pushed ever further out of the reach of young people. With the second home market booming – 40% of houses on Tiree being second homes – and with a post-pandemic boost to the market exacerbating the problem, some kind of direct government intervention other than cash is called for. A FOI request has revealed that only 68 houses have been built as a result of government initiatives that promised 500.