Tiree Rural Centre - the site for a new community-owned vet practice
Proposal code:
AP-2025-05-83
Creating a community-owned vet practice to safeguard Tiree and Coll’s rich crofting heritage, support sustainable farming, and protect livelihoods and jobs in a key part of the local economy.
Estimated Price
268449
What do we want to do?
This project seeks to transform an existing community space at the Tiree Rural Centre – previously used as a café – into a community-owned vet practice serving the islands of Coll and Tiree. The Rural Centre hosts the island’s cattle and sheep market along with an exhibition showing all aspects of crofting and wildlife on Tiree. It plays a leading role in preserving Tiree’s rich crofting heritage and, together with its central location on the island, is well-placed to host a community vet practice. This represents a significant investment and regeneration project for both Tiree and Coll, and would contribute positively to local economies, which revolve around crofting.
This project is led by a consortium of island stakeholders which includes Tiree Rural Development (which manage the Rural Centre), Tiree Community Development Trust, various crofters and community representatives, and the current vet. This steering group provides strategic oversight and represents a community-led approach focused on safeguarding a key island service and a shared belief that something must be done before it is too late.
To that end, the Tiree Community Development Trust commissioned a feasibility study to investigate renovating the available, currently vacant space at the Rural Centre into a vet practice. With a full design and accurate costs now in place, the consortium are now in a position to commence a build phase of the project, and are actively seeking funding to make this important project a reality.
Why is our project needed?
A vet is absolutely critical to both Tiree and Coll. Without an island vet, crofting largely becomes untenable, as crofters need access to veterinary services to keep animals and ensure their welfare. Crucially, Tiree’s culture, history, economy, and its unique machair landscape are all strongly linked to crofting. In addition to running their crofts, crofters often hold multiple jobs and community roles, and are essential to island life.
As crofting is the island’s primary industry, the loss of a vet would have dire consequences for the local economy. This would likely lead to emigration and a decline in the numbers of families living on the island. Even a few families leaving would have a significant impact on services, and could spark the further closure of lifeline services such as the school, GP surgery, and local businesses – a gradual process often seen in other small Scottish islands once the population falls below a critical point. Once these key services are lost, we know from experience and research that they rarely return. This is due to the high cost of running services on islands, the challenges of setting up, and the dwindling economic returns and economies of scale. Remote islands are places where market failure is the norm, not the exception. The group recognises that the vet practice is one such service that the island cannot afford to lose.
Moreover, many residents keep small animals and pets; the operational and cost implications of relying on a mainland vet service for Tiree and Coll residents are significant, in some instances prohibitive. The vet also plays a central role in protecting the island’s unique wildlife and marine life, regularly attending call-outs to help stranded dolphins and seals, for example.
With our current vet looking to retire in the near future, we are keen to minimise barriers that an incoming vet faces. In the past, it has been difficult to recruit and retain vet capacity, and recent shortages in the sector, combined with a low financial return of investing in an island-based vet practice, have made this challenge more acute. Additionally, the current vet operates out of a small and temporary space which is unlikely to meet future RCVS standards and does not fully meet the dynamic needs of an island vet. A high-quality, affordable, and long-term practice ensures that the prospect of moving to Tiree to take over the practice becomes much more attractive and financially viable.
What positive changes will our project bring about?
This project provides key benefits to crofters and the wider community on both Tiree and Coll:
A bespoke, compliant, and modern vet practice will make it easier to attract an incoming vet to the island, and retain them once they have arrived.
It improves the standard of care and contributes positively to animal welfare, as well as providing a better space for a vet to operate out of.
Securing an appropriate practice space for Tiree and Coll safeguards the entire crofting sector, the island’s primary industry.
Security of tenure for the vet, as well as a stable rental income for a community group dedicated to improving conditions for crofters and wildlife on Tiree.
Making better use of existing assets, and optimising design to factor in environmental improvements.
Tiree and Coll pet owners are guaranteed access to veterinary care without having to rely on mainland services, which can be difficult and expensive to access – especially during emergencies.
The project contributes to the wider regeneration of Tiree’s existing community-owned assets, and will play a key role in Tiree Rural Centre’s future.
A lifeline island service is maintained, contributing to the overall viability of Tiree’s small, unique, and thriving community.
