Hope Cohousing—a community interest company—is working to establish a small cohousing project for older people in St Margaret’s Hope, Orkney, as a lasting community benefit. Six new, eco-aware, affordable rental homes will be built for people wanting to live independently and build a supportive community. The project will have shared amenities, a garden….and chickens.
Find out more about the project; become a Friend of Hope Cohousing; or join our monthly meet-up.
Contact us if you have questions about HCH.
In the news
Our next monthly meet-up
Our next meet-up will be in April. Venue: To be arranged.
Monthly meet-ups (open to all) normally take place on the first Saturday of the month.
Coordinated action is required to address the complex and deeply rooted population challenges we face in rural and island areas
COSLA has drawn attention to the slowing of population growth and the impact of ageing. This has profound implications for economic productivity and the viability of public services. Rural and island areas suffer from several housing challenges, such as high building costs, a lack of scale to attract developers, a lack of capacity to complete projects, and a market failure of development.
They also draw attention to the impact of second home ownership and holiday letting. According to figures from the SOLACE housing report, 13.3% of properties in Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar, 10.4% in Argyll and Bute, 9.1% in both Orkney and Shetland, and 6.7% in Highland Council are empty due to an increase in short-term letting and owners of second homes. Competition for second homes can inflate prices beyond the means of local people. Seasonal occupancy and transient populations also change communities and affect the viability of local services. Click to download the COSLA Manifesto. [March 10, 2026]
Why housing for older women is an economic issue
For many older women, later life is shaped not by security but by structural economic inequality. They are significantly more likely to:
- Have lower lifetime earnings
- Have taken career breaks for unpaid care
- Rely on smaller pensions
- Live alone in later life
Click to read Hanover Scotland’s CEO Angela Currie’s call for action in Scottish Housing News. [March 9, 2026]
We need urgent action and new homes, not further bureaucracy
Angela Currie has also drawn our attention to the latest government figures showing that, in Scotland, just 4,122 social homes were completed by the end of September last year. This was a 15% drop and the lowest level since 2017. In the private sector, 14,225 homes were built over the year, three times as many as in the public sector. This was down 5%, and the weakest performance since 2018. Currently, there are around 150,000 people on waiting lists and 40,000 in temporary accommodation. Read the piece. [March 5, 2026]
Major increases in rough sleeping, homelessness, and children in temporary accommodation
New Scottish Government statistics show that between 2021 and 2026, rough sleeping more than doubled, overall homelessness has gone up nearly 20%, and the number of children in temporary accommodation has gone up 26%, the highest level since numbers began (Scottish Housing News). Last year, the Orkney News reported that the number of children in Orkney in temporary accommodation had doubled over the previous two years. Around Orkney has also revealed today that the number of planned homes to be built over the next 10 years (1350) will be 300 short of what will be needed [February 3, 2026].
Bield CEO calls for technology to be central to
independent living
According to Debbie Collins, the chief executive of Bield, digital technology is vital for supporting older tenants to live well and have connected and independent lives. Speaking at a recent conference, she argued that:
At present, Scotland does not have a national strategy for independent living and if we are serious about prevention, sustainability and enabling people to live well for longer, then a national strategy is no longer optional, it is essential. Instead of looking at housing as background infrastructure, it is vital that we prioritise it as the place where independence, health and daily life intersect.
She argues that by incorporating technology into people’s homes that is discreet and fits around the person and the household, we can keep people connected and independent. Scottish Housing News [January 26, 2026].
Exploring South Ronaldsay – Listening Walks
Created by Sheena Graham-George, and based on conversations with local people, the Burwick, Kirkhouse and St Margaret’s Hope Listening Walks are now available on Exploring South Ronaldsay [which started life on these pages]. The result is a fascinating collage of life on the island. [updated January 17, 2026]
Resources
Featured article: Why cohousing is good for people and communities – the evidence. [Updated January 2024]
Creating a cohousing project: Materials and videos exploring different aspects of putting together a cohousing project.
Look out for: Burray and South Ronaldsay: Local services. [New and updated]. See also the new Exploring South Ronaldsay site, which began life on these pages.
For more about the development of cohousing in Scotland, click on the Cohousing Scotland logo below.
