Orkney Islands Council has welcomed a major funding award from the Scottish Government that will help expand student accommodation in the islands.
The £346,200 grant, awarded through the Islands Programme Fund, will enable the Council to purchase and renovate existing properties rather than embark on new builds, adding four new bed spaces for students studying at UHI Orkney.
The move aims to ease accommodation pressures faced by students and strengthen local higher education opportunities in Orkney.
Additional funding will come from the Council’s Place-Based Investment Fund, with further financial support expected to be confirmed soon.
Councillor Gwenda Shearer, Chair of the Education, Leisure and Housing Committee, said the investment represents an important step in ensuring access to education for local and visiting students alike.
“I am delighted that the Council has been awarded this funding from the Scottish Government to support the increase of bed places for UHI Orkney students,” she said.
“Council officers are working with representatives from the universities to identify ways in which bed spaces can be increased further.”
The Council currently provides six student accommodation bed spaces in Orkney, managed through Orkney Islands Property Development Ltd.
The new investment will bring the total to ten.
It is hoped the additional accommodation will be ready in time for the start of the 2026/27 academic year, providing much-needed housing for students drawn to UHI Orkney’s growing range of courses.
The funding has been delivered through the Islands Programme Fund, part of the Scottish Government’s commitment to supporting island communities and implementing the National Islands Plan.
The programme has already supported more than 88 locally-led projects across 55 islands during its first five years, focusing on sustainable development, housing, and community infrastructure.
By repurposing existing properties rather than building from scratch, the Council’s approach reflects both environmental responsibility and financial prudence, aligning with wider goals of sustainability and community renewal.
For Orkney, the project is more than just an investment in buildings, it’s an investment in people, education, and opportunity.
