8. Crofter Housing Grants and Loans
8.2 The Croft Entrant Scheme
NOTE: only available in crofting areas.
The Croft Entrant Scheme (CES) encourages young people into crofting. It provides financial support and guidance for new entrants and assists inactive crofters to release their crofts to young people. The Scheme is operated in partnership between the Crofters Commission and the Local Enterprise Companies (LECs). The LECs provide funding which encourages inactive crofters to give up their croft land and assign it to a young entrant. It is run through Project Officers in each LEC.
The Crofters Commission holds the details of potential entrants on the demand list. The demand list is made available to those interested in assigning their croft to someone through the CES. The demand list is compiled by interested entrants completing a demand form, which has to be approved by the Commission.
The CES only operates in rural locations identified by the LECs and where it is known the population is of a high average age with inactive crofts. There is an outgoer's incentive payment and an ingoer's management premium.
Potential entrants should:
• be aged between 18 and 40
• find a suitable croft and prepare proposals for its development
• take up residence on the croft
• not previously have been a croft tenant or owner.
For further information contact the LEC or:
Crofters Commission,
4-6 Castle Wynd,
Inverness
IV2 3EQ
(tel: 01463 663 450).
