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We are delighted to share with you our plans for a unique development in the Scottish Highlands. The planned village of Kilbeg, situated on the Sleat peninsula in the south of Skye, is a spectacular location. Rugged coastlines, lush interiors, majestic mountains rising from the mainland across the Sound of Sleat - Kilbeg is a truly unique location for a new development. Yet this is something more than just a Hebridean idyll.

Imagine that it is a twenty-first century, dynamic hub offering first class education facilities, modern enterprise units, state-of-the-art capabilities for ICT and digital media, with environmentally-sustainable, quality housing and populated by a thriving, vibrant community.

WELCOME TO KILBEG

Impossible to imagine? – Read on ...

Tha m’aigne air a lìonadh le iarrtas ro-mhòr,Gum faicinn Eilean Sgiathach nan siantannan ’s a’ cheò.[My spirit is now filled with a great desireTo see the winged island of storms and misty sky]

Màiri Mhòr nan Òran[Mary Macpherson, Island of Skye]

1821-1898

Kilbeg is a 40 acre site situated within the estate of Clan Donald Lands Trust on the southern end of the Isle of Skye. The Trust is a Scottish charity established in 1971 with the mission to promote an understanding and appreciation of the history and traditions of Clan Donald and the Lordship of the Isles. The Trust advances its mission by operating Clan Donald Skye Visitor Centre situated within its 20,000 acre estate - a central feature of the Centre being the Museum of the Isles. The Trust also maintains the remains of Armadale Castle with its historic, landscaped Gardens, the Home Farm, ten Crofting Townships, and commercial and natural woodlands within the estate. In advancing its mission, the Trust also provides important economic benefits to the region as both a major employer and popular visitor attraction.

An important partner in this development is Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands. Founded in 1973, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig has become internationally recognised as the National Centre for the Gaelic language and culture. The College provides high quality education and research opportunities through the medium of Scottish Gaelic. It is a modern, innovative college with excellent learning resources on campus including an exceptional library collection, broadcast and recording facilities, residential student accommodation and a Gaelic-medium childcare facility. Current student numbers stand at approximately 100 on full-time courses, 160 on distance learning and access courses, and up to 800 on short courses each year.

All this represents an exponential growth from the College’s modest beginnings in the seventies. It is the College’s remarkable success story that has proved to be the catalyst for economic regeneration and growth in Sleat over the last four decades.

DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS

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In early 2008, an amendment to the West Highlands and Islands Local Plan afforded the Trust the opportunity to come together with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Sleat Community Trust (the local development trust) to make a joint submission to Highland Council, which expressed their ambition for the development of Kilbeg. That submission stated: “The joint promoters are very aware of the pressing need for new housing in Sleat, in particular affordable housing, and welcome the inclusion of a new housing designation at Kilbeg. We also welcome the continued recognition of the importance of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, not only to the national and international profile of Gaelic language and culture, but to its local community and economic impact.”

Clan Donald Lands Trust, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and Sleat Community Trust are synergistically driven by similar social, economic, cultural and environmental aspirations to create a world-class environment in Sleat, based on sustainable and highly attractive living standards. The amendment to the local plan was the starting point for developing the concept of a masterplan, which would illustrate how these ambitions could be realised.

CONTEXT OF THE DEVELOPMENT

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THE KILBEG MASTERPLANThe finished masterplan has been designed by Gillespies LLP, a leading practice of urban designers, town planners, architects and landscape architects. The masterplan defines how 93 new houses, new enterprise units, new college buildings and a large open green space (that could give the community access to much needed sporting and leisure facilities) will sit in the landscape around the existing two College campuses, the local primary school, the medical centre and local cemetery.

It creates a cohesive and logical picture that ensures linkage across a site that is intersected by a busy main road (A851). It allows for cycle paths and walking routes throughout the village. Sheltered housing and a care home have been designed into the final schema. Views across the village to the sea have been enhanced. It demonstrates how existing areas of environmental sensitivity are protected but also enhanced by the creative use of a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS). It is a masterplan that has considered every detail of what would create the most appropriate design for such a stunning and unique location.

The masterplan presents a vision for a new place in the Highlands and Islands that grows from its location and heritage, is grounded in local requirements and expectation and offers a bright and integrated future for enterprise, education and a sustainable rural lifestyle. Kilbeg will be a modern village with a distinct identity and with an environment that is comfortable, contemporary and memorable.

07

THE ELEMENTS OF THE NEW VILLAGE AT KILBEG 93 new homes

New college buildings for residences, research and teaching

A new conference facility/events venue

Enterprise units/workshops

A residential care home

Hotel accommodation, a retail outlet and café bar

Sports facilities – gym/sports pitches

Central green, public open space and path network

A comprehensive landscape framework

DESIGNING A NEW VILLAGEThe design of a new village presents a radical challenge. There are several important objectives for the village which the masterplan addresses. The masterplan is about:

Creating a new village with a strong sense of place and local identity

Creating a high quality public realm within a carefully designed village framework

Providing a clear plan for College expansion and improving the split campus issues

Ensuring good linkage between new facilities and the existing College buildings

Providing new community sporting facilities at the heart of the development

Ensuring there are good footpath and cycle links

Integrating sustainability into the design and programme for the village

Creating a new landscape framework to provide an improved microclimate

Addressing the severance and safety issues relating to the main road

Considering connectivity to the existing primary school and health centre

Integrating infrastructure and modern service requirements into the design

Proposing a viable future for the Grade B-listed College steading building

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A PLACE TO LIVEThe 93 homes will incorporate a wide mix of housing types and tenure from high market value seafront plots, medium-sized detached and semi-detached houses to affordable and shared equity housing. There will be architectural scope for excellent design at Kilbeg. This will be achieved in part by some unifying features within the village that respect good practice and traditional building form and materials.

However, this will not be merely pastiche Highland architecture. Housing design in a sensitive and beautiful location such as Kilbeg has to be special. It will have to stand the test of time as the village evolves.

All design will be:

Innovative and exemplar

World-class

Holistic and integrated

Interconnected

Environmentally sustainable

11

Luibhean is blàthan an rùin mu Shabhal Ostaig; agus solus, Deò-grèine dòchas nan Gàidheal, mu bhallachan ùra ’s seana.[... the herbs and flowers of aspiration about Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. And a light, sunbeam of the Gael’s hope, about its old and new walls.]

Gealach an Fhàis os cionn Shlèite[A waxing moon above Sleat]

Dr Sorley MacLean

AN ENTERPRISING PLACECreating space within Kilbeg for Sabhal Mòr Ostaig to grow will act as an important enterprise catalyst. New college building will include the development of a management centre, with associated hospitality infrastructure. The growth of the conference market will be rapidly expanded as the College is able to offer more bed spaces and facilities. Spin-off catering and leisure businesses, for example a café bar or restaurant, will naturally develop in tandem to this expansion.

Quality “clean enterprise” units will encourage the growth of more small-to-medium enterprises within Sleat, the need for which has already been demonstrated by the immediate success of the Fàs Centre for Creative and Cultural Industries at the College. Fàs’ world-class media production facilities will no doubt attract complimentary enterprise. Sleat also has a thriving craft industry - the development of more studio/workshop space will boost that important sector.

Clan Donald Lands Trust’s Forward Plan 2010-2030 maps out its own developmental aspirations for its commercial enterprises for the next two decades, which include a number of significant growth projects that will be enabled by the development of Kilbeg. More employment in the rural economy will in turn generate the need for more housing and more tourism infrastructure such as food and retail outlets, hotel accommodation and services.

A young, educated, local workforce with affordable housing opportunity and first class community facilities will contribute to the remarkable economic growth that has characterised Sleat over the last two decades.

The Highland Wide Local Development Plan (Proposed Plan) identifies Kilbeg Village as a priority in the Spatial Strategy for the West Highlands and Islands. The new village will support the aspirations for the West Highlands and Islands, which include, amongst others, providing more affordable homes, creating a more diverse economy and creating places of outstanding natural and cultural heritage. In particular, the Proposed Plan states that a key objective is to:

“have a greater and

more diverse age profile

of population than

currently projected -

underpinned by better

employment, housing

and further education

opportunities for

younger people.”

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Kilbeg is a unique and special place - the outstanding views out over the Sound of Sleat to Knoydart should be celebrated. Public access to particular vantage points that the site offers will be created both at inland highpoints and at the cliff-top. The existing vegetation and mature tree planting that line the A851 as a border to adjoining fields is a distinctive environmental asset. An important element in achieving the linkage of the site across both sides of the main road will be the creation of a village green which will maximise those expansive views to the mainland to the site’s best advantage.

Another amenity area will be created in Kilbeg by a maintained landscape incorporating a pond, paths and special marginal and aquatic planting. The pond will be naturally fed from the adjacent ditch and flow out to the existing culvert. The water-edge planting will provide a natural filtration and create a softer visual edge to the pond.

Ecologically sensitive areas of the village will be respected. Further matching tree species will be planted to develop the area as an ecological asset for the community. An existing woodland meadow on the north end of the village will be enhanced and managed. The hill place is a prominent natural landmark at the heart of the village, while the coastal viewpoint will also have prominence behind the village green, and will be accentuated by an appropriate architectural treatment. The natural quality of the setting for these vantage points will be maintained by an annual management programme. Footpaths will be designed to converge on these special locations.

Suburban design treatments of road edges will be avoided, while more rural solutions that lend a softer and more appropriate solution will be employed. Random rubble stone walling to the front of residential development plots and to some enterprise areas will provide a unifying high quality and visually interesting rural detail.

Cycle paths and pedestrian walkways have been carefully designed throughout the village. Visual linkage will also be created by the commissioning of public art, that will help unify the different character areas throughout Kilbeg.

PUBLIC SPACES IN THE NEW VILLAGE

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SPORTS FACILITIESThe development of sporting facilities is essential for Kilbeg village to become a healthy and desirable place in which to work and live. The masterplan has allowed for a sporting and recreation facility around the hub of the village green, which will be situated next to the main Àrainn Chaluim Chille campus on the seaward side of the village. The local community, who currently have no access to any recreation area and the growing student population at the College will ensure that usage of such facilities is high.

The recreational building of the sports facility is planned as a large volume, single story box of contemporary design to sit in proximity with the other large buildings on the campus. A linked pavilion in contrasting lightweight materials could be incorporated into the overall design.

The green will accommodate informal village events and gatherings as well as organised field sports and games. An eleven-a-side football pitch or a 200m running circuit with a 100m long running strip all with over-run margins can be accommodated on the green with temporary white lining.

A COMMUNITY HUBThe development of a recreation building adjacent to the sporting area in the village will also act as the focus for an important community resource – a place to meet, a place to talk, a place in which to celebrate. Opportunities for hospitality enterprise, in parallel with the gym and sporting facilities, could be developed here. Creating a successful village is about more than putting up buildings – a village must have a heart.

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Slèite riabhach nam bàn bòidheach[‘Brindled Sleat of the beautiful women’]

Traditional saying

Clan Donald Lands Trust has a vision that Kilbeg should be a sustainable, low carbon village for the twenty-first century. To achieve this, and to future-proof the design, the whole village will be developed with a bespoke sustainable design code. As the development will occur within a period of rapidly changing legislation with regard to low carbon buildings, it is seen as important that a framework is established at the outset that ensures consistent base energy performance of all buildings.

The masterplan has recognised from the outset that the development site is unique and, along with the more obvious sustainability measures, more subtle influences have also to be considered, such as site exposure and limited infrastructure. The positioning of buildings and their aspect has evolved to take advantage of the south-facing influence and where possible natural shelter belts have been exploited. Where development is outwith natural shelter, new tree belts will be established.

This ambition for environmental sustainability is mirrored by the Trust’s plans for its own estate. As further investment is made by the Trust in developing forestry schemes, the introduction of biomass heating systems is also anticipated for many of the buildings within the estate, fed by supplies from its own woodchip production unit. This enterprise can also provide low-carbon emission heating systems for housing and business, as well as securing significant further employment within the area.

In addition to biomass, several other carbon neutral, or even carbon negative, energy strategies will also be examined to establish an exemplar environment.

SUSTAINABILITYThese might be:

Combined heat and power (chp)

Photovoltaic panels

Geothermal technologies

Solar water heating

Wind turbines

The greening of Kilbeg village will be achieved by other aspects of best practice in environmental planning such as:

Rainwater harvesting

Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS), which will promote biodiversity and prevent flooding

The creation of linked networks of footpaths and cycle routes to promote healthier living

Wildlife corridors which will promote biodiversity and protect endangered species

Recycling centres which will promote a more sustainable approach to waste management.

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CONNECTIVITYWhile its island location might suggest remoteness, Kilbeg has never been better connected. The recently upgraded A851 takes you from Kilbeg to the ferry service at Armadale in five minutes (approximately 2km). The ferry service has recently been upgraded with improvement to both summer and winter services, and as the profitability of the route increases year on year CalMac are committed to further review and enhancement.

Alternative access via Skye road bridge is toll free. Inverness Airport is a two and a half hour drive, and Glasgow and Edinburgh can be reached comfortably in four hours.

The provision of high speed broadband services in Kilbeg has been a key consideration during the masterplanning stages. The local BT telephone exchange at Ardvasar was upgraded in 2008 to provided broadband to the area of Kilbeg, with average speeds of 6Mb being utilised by the local residents, via standard copper telecommunication lines. Whilst this is not high speed, it is a better service than in many other parts of the Highlands and Islands.

Clan Donald Lands Trust, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the various community bodies, through the appropriate development agencies and other statutory bodies, will continue to make representations to BT to commit to an enhancement programme for the area, in particular to investigate the feasibility of installing a direct fibre optic connection from the Ardvasar exchange to provide in excess of 20Mb.

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A NEW VILLAGE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY WITH A FIRST CLASS UNIVERSITY AT ITS HEARTTo grow our rural economy and offer the best life chances for all our current and future residents of Sleat we intend to:

Create a world class environment where we can offer a high quality of life which will attract and retain people to live, work, visit and invest

To deliver a design that will enable a real community to grow rather than simply build another housing estate or business park

Offer a choice of homes which people can afford which will cater for all needs, ages and health conditions

Deliver a quality standard of housing that will stand the test of time in terms of both design and environmental sustainability

Develop employment opportunities by providing first class enterprise units

Create and invest in public spaces to fully exploit the wonderful potential of the site

Give residents gardens, wildlife areas and recreational space

Give residents every opportunity to lead healthy lifestyles by enabling them to walk and cycle safely to school, work, the GP’s surgery and other local services

Respect the unique culture and heritage of this beautiful area

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Loreum Ipsum, Loreum Ipsum, Loreum Ipsum

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TIM

ELIN

EKi

lbeg

– A

’ Chi

ll Bh

eag

in G

aelic

mea

ning

the

little

chu

rch

AD 585

– by

trad

ition

St C

olum

ba la

nds

on th

e sh

ores

nea

r Kilb

eg in

Sky

e. O

n th

e sh

ore

ther

e is

a re

ef k

now

n lo

cally

as

Sgei

r

Cha

luim

Cill

e, S

t Col

umba

’s Ro

ck

1971

– C

lan

Don

ald

Land

s Tr

ust i

s fo

rmed

, enc

ompa

ssin

g 20

,000

acr

es o

f the

form

er e

stat

e of

Lor

d M

acdo

nald

. It i

s w

ithin

the

Trus

t’s la

nd th

at K

ilbeg

sits

1983

– S

abha

l Mòr

Ost

aig,

Sco

tland

’s fir

st G

aelic

Col

lege

, ope

ns it

s do

ors

to it

s fir

st in

take

of f

ull-t

ime

stud

ents

on

the

site

of

a co

nver

ted

barn

at À

rain

n O

stai

g ne

xt to

Kilb

eg

1999

– A

new

mul

ti-m

illio

n po

und

seco

nd c

ampu

s fo

r Sab

hal M

òr O

stai

g, À

rain

n C

halu

im C

hille

, is

com

plet

ed

2008

– F

às, t

he C

entre

for C

ultu

ral a

nd C

reat

ive

Indu

strie

s is

offic

ially

ope

ned

by F

irst M

inist

er, A

lex

Salm

ond

on th

e À

rain

n

Cha

luim

Chi

lle s

ite, w

ith s

tate

-of-

the-

art m

edia

pro

duct

ion

faci

litie

s

2009

– C

lan

Don

ald

Land

s Tr

ust p

ublis

hes

its F

orw

ard

Plan

201

0 –

2030

, a tw

enty

yea

r visi

on fo

r the

dev

elop

men

t of t

he

Trus

t’s e

stat

e20

09 –

Hig

hlan

d C

ounc

il ac

cept

an

amen

dmen

t to

thei

r Dra

ft L

ocal

Pla

n al

low

ing

for t

he d

evel

opm

ent o

f a m

ix o

f hou

sing

and

ente

rpris

e w

ithin

the

40 a

cre

site

at K

ilbeg

2010

– C

lan

Don

ald

Land

s Tr

ust f

orm

s C

DLT

Dev

elop

men

ts L

imite

d as

the

deve

lopm

ent v

ehic

le fo

r Kilb

eg v

illag

e

2011

– M

aste

rpla

nnin

g fo

r the

Kilb

eg s

ite is

com

plet

ed

2011

– P

lann

ing

Perm

issio

n is

gran

ted

and

first

pha

se o

f the

Kilb

eg d

evel

opm

ent c

omm

ence

s

18

23

CDLT DEVELOPMENTS LIMITEDThe development of Kilbeg represents a unique opportunity for Clan Donald Lands Trust, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and the local community to collaborate in the realisation of a new village, offering much needed room to grow and modernised infrastructure for the area. CDLT Developments Limited was established by the Trust as the development vehicle charged with taking this exciting project forward.

SLEAT COMMUNITY TRUSTSleat Community Trust is the vibrant local community development trust, founded in 2004 and with a membership of more than 70% of the Sleat population. It is involved in a number of significant projects, including carbon reduction schemes, recycling, fuel sales, local post office, garage, environmental protection schemes, renewable energy projects, subsidised taxis, and the purchase of a community forest.

SLEAT COMMUNITY COUNCILSleat Community Council is made up of eight local volunteer councillors who represent the community to a variety of statutory agencies on many issues such as planning, economic development and transport.

Clan Donald Lands Trust gratefully acknowledges the support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highland LEADER

in the preparation of the Kilbeg masterplan.

CONSULTANT TEAMPROJECT MANAGEMENTMcKinnon Associates39 Carlaverock Road Glasgow G43 2RZ

MASTERPLAN DESIGNERSGillespies LLP21 Carlton CourtGlasgow G5 9JPT +44 (0) 141 420 8200www.gillespies.co.uk

ENGINEERING DESIGN Halcrow Yolles16 Abercromby PlaceEdinburgh EH3 6LBT +44 (0) 131 272 3300www.halcrow.com

SERVICES AND SUSTAINABILITYRybka13 Newton TerraceGlasgow G3 7PJT +44 (0) 141 221 2334 www.rybka.co.uk

COST MANAGEMENTCurrie & Brown Group Limited Registered Office and Head Office:Dashwood House69 Old Broad StreetLondon EC2M 1QST +44 (0) 20 7920 9220www.curriebrown.com

FURTHER INFORMATION

For further information and to keep in touch with this exciting project you can log on to our website www.kilbeg.com

If you would like to discuss Kilbeg with us please contact:

Norman N GilliesCDLT Developments LtdArmadaleSleat Isle of Skye IV45 8RST +44 (0) 1471 844243E: norman@clandonald.com

TIM

ELIN

EKi

lbeg

– A

’ Chi

ll Bh

eag

in G

aelic

mea

ning

the

little

chu

rch

AD 585

– by

trad

ition

St C

olum

ba la

nds

on th

e sh

ores

nea

r Kilb

eg in

Sky

e. O

n th

e sh

ore

ther

e is

a re

ef k

now

n lo

cally

as

Sgei

r

Cha

luim

Cill

e, S

t Col

umba

’s Ro

ck

1971

– C

lan

Don

ald

Land

s Tr

ust i

s fo

rmed

, enc

ompa

ssin

g 20

,000

acr

es o

f the

form

er e

stat

e of

Lor

d M

acdo

nald

. It i

s w

ithin

the

Trus

t’s la

nd th

at K

ilbeg

sits

1983

– S

abha

l Mòr

Ost

aig,

Sco

tland

’s fir

st G

aelic

Col

lege

, ope

ns it

s do

ors

to it

s fir

st in

take

of f

ull-t

ime

stud

ents

on

the

site

of

a co

nver

ted

barn

at À

rain

n O

stai

g ne

xt to

Kilb

eg

1999

– A

new

mul

ti-m

illio

n po

und

seco

nd c

ampu

s fo

r Sab

hal M

òr O

stai

g, À

rain

n C

halu

im C

hille

, is

com

plet

ed

2008

– F

às, t

he C

entre

for C

ultu

ral a

nd C

reat

ive

Indu

strie

s is

offic

ially

ope

ned

by F

irst M

inist

er, A

lex

Salm

ond

on th

e À

rain

n

Cha

luim

Chi

lle s

ite, w

ith s

tate

-of-

the-

art m

edia

pro

duct

ion

faci

litie

s

2009

– C

lan

Don

ald

Land

s Tr

ust p

ublis

hes

its F

orw

ard

Plan

201

0 –

2030

, a tw

enty

yea

r visi

on fo

r the

dev

elop

men

t of t

he

Trus

t’s e

stat

e20

09 –

Hig

hlan

d C

ounc

il ac

cept

an

amen

dmen

t to

thei

r Dra

ft L

ocal

Pla

n al

low

ing

for t

he d

evel

opm

ent o

f a m

ix o

f hou

sing

and

ente

rpris

e w

ithin

the

40 a

cre

site

at K

ilbeg

2010

– C

lan

Don

ald

Land

s Tr

ust f

orm

s C

DLT

Dev

elop

men

ts L

imite

d as

the

deve

lopm

ent v

ehic

le fo

r Kilb

eg v

illag

e

2011

– M

aste

rpla

nnin

g fo

r the

Kilb

eg s

ite is

com

plet

ed

2011

– P

lann

ing

Perm

issio

n is

gran

ted

and

first

pha

se o

f the

Kilb

eg d

evel

opm

ent c

omm

ence

s

PHOTO / ILLUSTRATION CREDITS

Photography supplied by Cànan, Rob Ware and Sabhal Mòr OstaigIllustrations by Gillespies LLP

Design Cànan | www.canan.co.uk

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