£1 Million Fund to Boost Community Housing and Capacity Building in the Highlands

SSE has opened its £1 million fund to support communities across the Highlands, focusing on community-led housing and building long-term capacity in the community sector. Grants of over £30,000 will be available to help local groups advance their ambitions and address key needs in their area. 

The funding forms part of SSE’s Highland Sustainable Development Fund, which is open to non-profit organisations, community groups, and charities throughout the Highland region. Supported projects are expected to deliver transformational social, economic and environmental benefits, while strengthening long-term community development. 

This funding round prioritises initiatives that tackle the region’s housing shortage and enhance community resilience. Successful applications will complement wider regional efforts already underway to address these challenges. 

To date, the Highland Sustainable Development Fund has invested £10.6 million in transformative community projects. Recent awards include £74,000 to the Assynt Development Trust to support the development of 10 affordable homes—an important step in addressing local housing needs and helping to retain young and working-age residents. 

Adam Pellant, Development Officer for Assynt Development Trust, said:  

“With significant support from the SSE’s Sustainable Development Fund, Assynt has been able to advance our community’s long-term ambition of delivering affordable homes. This funding is helping us overcome the practical and financial barriers that small communities often face, ensuring that we can create housing that supports local families, helps retain working-age residents, and contributes to a more sustainable future for our area.” 

Lord Jack McConnell, Chair of the Sustainable Development Fund, said:  

“The project at Assynt is an excellent example of a community taking action to secure their own future.  Viable communities need good housing, strong resilience and the capacity to support enterprising opportunities. We hope that applicants to this round of the Fund will be ambitious in addressing these regional issues.” 

Morven Smith, Head of Community Investment for SSE said:  

“We’re proud that the Sustainable Development Fund continues to make a real difference to the future of the Highlands. Previous rounds of funding have enabled many impressive local projects, from affordable housing and community facilities to initiatives that build capacity and create new opportunities. As we launch this next round, we encourage communities to bring forward proposals that address Highland priorities and that can deliver meaningful, long-term benefits for local people.” 

The deadline for applications to the Highland Sustainable Development Fund is Noon on Tuesday 20 January 2026.  

Further guidance and a link to the application portal can be found here: Sustainable development fund | SSE Renewables