Details have been unveiled of the financial package that enabled the North Harris community to purchase 55,000 acres of the North Harris Estate. A joint bid for the whole estate by the local community and businessman Ian Scarr-Hall has been successful, the first such partnership to take control of a Scottish estate.

North Harris Trust – the local community group working with the John Muir Trust – received substantial financial backing from the National Lottery-backed New Opportunities Fund, Highlands and Island Enterprise (HIE) and the John Muir Trust.

The success of this creative partnership solution means that the community will now own and manage the land assets of the estate – some 55,000 acres of land – while Mr Scarr-Hall, chairman of George S Hall Ltd, acquires Amhuinnsuidhe Castle and the estate’s valuable fishing rights.

David Cameron, Chairman of North Harris Trust said: "It's tremendous news. An historic day for North Harris. For the first time ever the people of North Harris can look at their land and know that it belongs to them. We now have so many opportunities that can benefit not just us but all the generations to come - a magnificent day."

The Community Land Unit at Highlands and Islands Enterprise is supporting the purchase with a contribution of £416,438. HIE chairman, Jim Hunter, said: "The community are to be congratulated on their thorough approach and hard work which has been put into their proposals. They have taken a very enthusiastic, but logical and realistic view as to what land they would want to own and how they would manage it. The novel approach of purchasing part of the estate and forming a partnership with a private sector owner of the remainder has enabled the community to move forward with confidence. I am delighted that HIE has been able to support this purchase and that the commendable efforts of the community have paid off."

The John Muir Trust (JMT) was invited by the community to become partners in the North Harris Trust in order to bring its experience of working with local communities and of managing land of great heritage value. The JMT subsequently agreed to make a financial contribution towards both the purchase and the management.