Transforming a derelict garage in Crossapol into sustainable festival and community facilities — public toilets, campervan hookups, flexible space, and year-round local services.
Estimated Price
475000
We propose the transformation of a disused and much-loved garage building in Crossapol into a multi-use community and festival hub that supports both the Tiree Music Festival (TMF) and year-round local needs. By retaining and repurposing the existing structure, this project will deliver high-impact, low-carbon regeneration, breathing new life into a derelict site while enhancing essential infrastructure on the island.
The redevelopment will deliver:
Public toilets and showers (modular, accessible, and scalable)
Campervan hook-ups and waste disposal
Flexible event and workshop space
Storage and logistics base for TMF
Artist accommodation and lettable rooms for health and community services
Wellbeing facilities for local use
TMF will lead the project in partnership with community stakeholders. The design will adopt a modular, phased approach to allow maximum flexibility, enabling early delivery of core facilities and future expansion based on need and available funding.
This regeneration proposal directly addresses several critical infrastructure gaps on the island. Tiree faces major logistical and economic hurdles when hosting large-scale events, and limited local facilities place pressure on both residents and services during peak periods. The garage building, while currently disused and visually unappealing, is structurally sound, still connected to utilities, and well located adjacent to the festival site and near An Talla. It has long held sentimental value locally and offers a rare opportunity to retain a piece of Tiree’s industrial heritage while bringing it into active, community-focused use.
Through community consultation and festival operational reviews, a range of needs have been clearly identified:
There are no fixed public toilets or showers on the island, which is a challenge for both visitors and local groups.
Campervan tourism is growing, but there are no existing service points such as electric hook-ups or waste disposal facilities.
There is a lack of indoor, flexible space suitable for year-round activities such as workshops, creative events, and health services.
Smaller, lettable rooms are needed to accommodate services like physiotherapy, massage, financial advice, or private meetings — none of which are currently available in appropriate settings.
This project directly addresses all of these needs. Without investment, the site is unlikely to be brought into use due to high up-front costs and limited commercial potential. Public funding will enable this community-led vision to be realised and unlock broader social, economic, and environmental value.
The positive impacts will be wide-ranging:
Improved amenities: Clean, accessible toilets, showers, and campervan services to benefit visitors, residents, and event-goers alike.
Stronger event infrastructure: Permanent facilities reduce TMF’s reliance on costly temporary solutions, improving sustainability and logistics.
Year-round community benefit: A new indoor space offering services, workshops, wellbeing activities, and space for collaboration and enterprise.
Cultural and heritage preservation: Retains and repurposes a locally significant building, maintaining a tangible link to Tiree’s past.
Environmental leadership: Reuse of building fabric, greywater systems, and reduced transport help align with TMF’s sustainability goals.
Economic regeneration: Creation of lettable space, support for local services, potential employment, and enhanced visitor experiences.
The development will follow a phased delivery model to maximise impact while managing risk and funding. Key phases are outlined below:
Q1–Q2 2026: Design, planning permission, community engagement
Q3 2026–Q2 2027: Construction and fit-out of priority infrastructure (e.g. toilets, showers, campervan services)
Q3 2027: Full opening and activation, with additional space to be developed as further funding allows
The intended start date is within the 2026–2027 financial year, with an overall delivery timeframe of 18–24 months.
This proposal offers a rare opportunity to transform a longstanding eyesore into a valuable asset for Tiree — one that supports regeneration through community use, sustainable tourism, and cultural celebration. It balances practical need with long-term ambition and is grounded in both local knowledge and a clear delivery pathway.
