A community-owned barge enabling cultural, economic and social regeneration on Ulva – supporting markets, restoration, farming, and events through vital, year-round access.
Estimated Price
200000
North West Mull Community Woodland Company (NWMCWC) proposes to purchase and operate a community-owned barge to serve the Isle of Ulva. This transformative asset will unlock essential access for people, goods, vehicles, livestock, and materials - enabling regeneration, resilience, and economic growth on a fragile, remote island currently constrained by limited marine transport.
Ulva is a roadless island off the west coast of Mull, with no bridge and only a passenger ferry. The community is entirely reliant on the support of a local fish farm for occasional barge support - help that has been generous and invaluable over the last few years, though is naturally limited. This creates a significant barrier to regeneration, preventing progress on key projects and undermining the island’s long-term sustainability.
The barge will address this infrastructure gap and enable a range of community-led initiatives, including:
Heritage restoration, including the movement of scaffolding, stone, and tools to repair historic buildings like Ulva House or Telford-designed church, and other community buildings.
Sustainable land management, supporting crofting and farming by transporting livestock, feed, and agricultural supplies, as well as help with the removal of unused and broken equipment and machinery.
Resident-led business development, giving islanders the infrastructure needed to start and sustain their own small enterprises - enabling self-sufficiency and reducing dependence on external services.
Contractor and service access, allowing building and infrastructure work to proceed without excessive private transport costs.
Emergency resilience, offering an alternative logistics route in the event of ferry failure.
A community-led initiatives like Ulva Producers’ Market, connecting local growers, makers, and visitors in a shared island space.
Cultural and community events, such as pop-up exhibitions, and other events that require transporting bulky or heavy equipment.
As one resident said, "A community barge would secure the long-term future of the farm and ensure we’re no longer totally reliant on a third party to move livestock or machinery. It would also open up opportunities for diversification. On a personal level, it would create a more sustainable and flexible connection between Ulva and Mull—helping our community grow, thrive, and engage more with the wider community of north-west Mull.”
The barge will be community-owned, maintained by NWMCWC, and operated in partnership with residents and local businesses. It will have multiple uses and function flexibly, supporting both everyday needs and long-term community goals. Critically, it provides a foundation for further regeneration efforts, addressing a clear case of market failure and enabling transformational change.
The project will be ready to commence once capital funding is secured, with delivery anticipated over 12–18 months, including procurement, compliance, training, and launch.
