TSL Contractors make huge strides in Craignure housing development
After a seemingly endless 18 months, TSL Contractors has finally seen planning permission approved for a new development in its home of Craignure, Isle of Mull.
Mull, like most of the West Coast, has had a major issue with housing shortages in recent years as holiday homes sweep up most available properties.
But with TSL finally being given permission to start working on a new 97 home estate in Craignure, that issue will start to be addressed.
The new development will be situated close to the Mull and Iona Community Hospital at the edge of the village.
Construction was hoped to be under way already, but a four-year delay brought on in part by Covid-19 has hammered the approvals process.
However, despite obtaining the long-awaited approval, much work still needs to be done before foundations can be laid.
TSL director Naomi Knight revealed that the company is working through a list of planning conditions which must be fulfilled prior to any construction, which includes moving the speed limit barrier in Craignure to a location that has not yet been specified by officials.
The new speed limit will be 40 miles per hour along the main road which runs next to the development, before reaching the current 30 zone in Craignure.
Other conditions include an archaeological survey, construction, traffic and environmental planning, and renewal of approvals from Scottish Water.
Of the planned 97 houses, 24 will be affordable social housing, for which TSL is talking to Registered Social Landlords to develop.
Ms Knight called the progress on the project "fantastic" and said: "We are pleased to see progress at last and we are currently working through technical approvals and as soon is feasible we aim to commence on site."
Another positive for the project is that the prices of raw materials are currently stagnant after a period of sharp inflation, although construction companies are still dealing with "continued inflationary challenges".
During the approval process the cost of materials rose significantly, peaking in July 2022 around the same time that TSL submitted the planning permission.
The most extreme rises saw cement rise by a staggering 69 per cent since the start of the pandemic.
Prices rose again slightly in 2023, but have since flattened out, with some prices even starting to come down.
TSL are hopeful that work can begin in Craignure in 2025, and once it is completed the housing capacity of the village will more than double.
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