A statement on Communities Housing Trust, September 2026.
We have been very sorry to learn that Communities Housing Trust (CHT) is winding down its activities, following financial pressures that have made its work unsustainable.
For almost thirty years, Communities Housing Trust has supported rural communities across the Highlands and Islands to deliver affordable housing, making a tangible difference to our most fragile communities.
Over that time, they have delivered over 500 affordable homes in numerous communities. The huge amount of knowledge and expertise they have accumulated has benefited so many projects, including our own.
CHT has been a close partner of ours at Ardochy Forest, where we have worked with them and the Woodland Crofts Partnership on the four woodland crofts on land brought into community ownership in 2022. CHT also contributed to the Greenfield proposals we are currently inviting feedback on, although here, their involvement was limited to advice and expertise.
We are grateful for the knowledge, expertise and support CHT and its staff have given us over the years. While we will be able to work with other partners to move forward with our plans, we are aware that for many other communities, the loss of CHT will have a devastating impact.
This is a significant loss for the Highlands and Islands, and a stark reminder of just how hard affordable housing is to deliver for fragile rural communities.