Kinloch Castle Study: Final report

3. Study findings

The following sections summarise the main findings of Rounds 1, 2 and 3.

Round 1 survey

During Round 1, we heard from 21 islanders – a response rate of over 90%. The majority of islanders who responded to Round 1 agree that the castle should be sold and think its sale and redevelopment will have a positive impact on the Rum community.

Kinloch Castle

• The majority of islanders who responded to Round 1 (14 respondents, 67%) agreed that Kinloch Castle should be sold, in order to be redeveloped and brought back into operational use. A small group strongly disagreed (4 respondents, 19%).
• Over half (13 respondents, 62%) of respondents felt that the sale, redevelopment and operational use of Kinloch Castle will have a positive impact on the Rum community. Four respondents (19%) said they thought the impact would be ‘Very negative’.
• In terms of options for the future use of the castle building and surrounding land, among islanders who responded to Round 1, the most preferred option was public use followed by commercial use. The least preferred option was private use.^[8]

Conditions of sale

• There was broad agreement that the gazebo, racket court and walled garden should be included in the sale of Kinloch Castle. There was less consensus about the inclusion of the old dairy, workshop / byre and carpenters shed (‘steading’).^[9]
• Whilst one group of respondents felt that the sale should not include additional buildings or land, and that the community should own the additional buildings and land to retain control over their future use, others felt the suggested area of minimum land to be included in a sale was proportionate and appropriate.
• The survey stated that any sale of Kinloch Castle will involve some degree of redevelopment, conservation and negotiation around public access to the building and surrounding land. It gave a list of suggested conditions of sale (see the report annex). There was broad agreement with this list of suggested conditions of sale.
• Five respondents identified use of the access road and access to the castle grounds as a key priority, whilst four islanders highlighted environmental factors, for example the need to support the island’s application to the International Dark Sky Association
• Respondents who stated a preference for particular conditions of sale largely focused on access rights, environmental issues and community engagement.
• Four respondents expressed the view that any conditions should not prevent the sale of the castle, whilst another four islanders did not have a view on conditions of sale.

The Rum community

• In Round 1, islanders highlighted the need for community engagement, to maintain public access and to consider safeguards in the event of future sales.
• There was also a focus on the impact that selling the castle may have on the Rum community, with a shared view among many respondents that any sale of the castle should not be disruptive to residents’ lives on the island today.
• Those who support a sale recognise the potential community benefits it could bring, including employment opportunities and improvements to the condition of the building. They raised concerns about the high public costs of maintaining the castle.
• Other respondents were concerned about the potential negative impacts of a sale, including the risk of community views not being taken into account in future.
• Whilst some respondents felt that the future use of the castle should be determined by its new owner, others argued that islanders should be recognised as important stakeholders in decisions about the use of the castle.
• Among respondents who did not agree with the sale of the castle, several expressed a preference for an alternative approach, such as curated decay.

Table 1. Summary of main Round 1 results

Round 1 survey question

3. To what extent do you agree that Kinloch Castle should be sold, in order to be redeveloped and brought back into operational use?

Responses

• Strongly agree - 9 respondents (43%)
• Agree - 5 respondents (24%)
• Neutral - 3 respondents (14%)
• Strongly disagree - 4 respondents (19%)

4. Overall, what impact do you think the sale, redevelopment and operational use of Kinloch Castle will have on the Rum community?

Responses

• Very positive - 9 respondents (43%)
• Positive - 4 respondents (19%)
• Neutral - 4 respondents (19%)
• Very negative - 4 respondents (19%)

5. There are a number of options for the future use of the castle building and the surrounding land. Please rank these in order of preference, from your most (1) to least preferred option (5).

Responses

• Public use - 12 respondents (57%) ranked this as either their first or second choice
• Commercial use - 10 respondents (47%) ranked this as either their first or second choice
• Mixed use - 8 respondents (39%) ranked this as either their first or second choice
• Private use - 6 respondents (29%) ranked this as either their first or second choice

Round 2 survey

In Round 2, we heard from 16 islanders – a lower response rate of 70%. As in Round 1, there was broad agreement with the suggested conditions of sale. In Round 2, islanders who responded focused on issues such as access rights and the sustainability of the Rum community. They want to be kept informed about a potential sale of Kinloch Castle, and told us they would prefer to have mediated involvement.

Conditions of sale

• As in Round 1, there was broad agreement with the suggested conditions of sale.
• In Round 2, respondents were asked to rate the importance of each condition (see Box 1). The conditions, in order of importance, were as follows:^[10]

  a) Contribution to the sustainability of the Rum community (8.1)

  b) Adherence to the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (7.9)

  c) Contribution to enhancing nature on Rum, promotion and encouragement of its enjoyment, and interest in the island (7.7)

  d) Long-term commitment to conditions of sale (7.7)

  e) Active community involvement (7.3)

  f) Maintain use of access road (7.3)

  g) Access rights (front of castle) (7.2)

  h) Minimising the carbon footprint and environmental impact from the use of the castle (7)

  i) Castle ownership (detail on ownership model) (6.5)

  j) Redevelopment of the castle building (6.3)^[11]

• There were high levels of consensus in the scores given to the top four conditions.
• There were mixed views about the importance of having conditions of sale: one view was that concessions need to be made to support a sale, another that keeping the conditions adaptable to changing community views was realistic.
• If any or all of these conditions prevent the sale of the castle, 10 respondents said their preferred outcome would be that the ‘Sale does not go ahead’.
• In terms of the future use of the castle and surrounding land, the most preferred option as in Round 1 was public use (7 respondents), followed by commercial (6 respondents) and mixed use (2 respondents).^[12]
• Looking at wider options for the castle, there was less consensus amongst Round 2 respondents: 5 preferred ‘Managed decline / curated decay’; 4 preferred ‘Community ownership and use’, and 4 preferred ‘Private sale’.

Approach to the sale

• 8 respondents to Round 2 said they would prefer to have ‘mediated involvement’, for example with an external negotiator to manage communication between the island community and buyer, in a future sale. 3 said they would prefer ‘direct involvement’, 2 said ‘through an island governance group’ and 2 said ‘no involvement’.
• In terms of how islanders would like to be kept informed about a potential sale, the most popular option was email (14 respondents selected this), followed by in-person meetings (7), by post (5) and through the Rum Community Association (5).^[13]
• Respondents stated that communication with islanders about a potential sale should be accurate, regular and timely; it should be directly with individual residents.

Additional buildings and land

• Whilst many islanders are keen to see additional buildings and areas of land around the castle redeveloped and put to use, some respondents to Round 2 felt the priority should be community ownership and use.
• As in Round 1, there was broad agreement that the gazebo, racket court and walled garden should be included in the sale, but less consensus about the inclusion of the old dairy, dairy woods, workshop / byre and carpenters shed (‘steading’).
• In terms of the additional buildings and areas of land, 6 islanders who responded said their preferred option was that all land and buildings as shown (see map, Annex) are included in the sale of Kinloch Castle, whilst 7 said their preferred option was that the Isle of Rum Community Trust takes ownership of the land and leases the castle building to an individual or company as required (the entire asset).
• One islander stated that some buildings and areas of land are in a state of disuse and need investment, and the Community Trust would not be able to manage them due to current challenges with existing landholdings.

Box 1. Most important conditions of sale^[14]

• Contribution to the sustainability of the Rum community - 8.1
• Adherence to the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement - 7.9
• Contribution to enhancing nature on Rum, promotion and encouragement of its enjoyment, and interest in the island - 7.7
• Long-term commitment to conditions of sale - 7.7
• Maintain use of access road - 7.3
• Active community involvement - 7.3

Round 3 drop-in session and workshop

In Round 3 we held an in-person drop-in session and workshop on Rum. We conducted 6 interviews during the drop-in session, and 17 island residents attended the workshop. Participants discussed the long-term role of the castle on the island, and raised concerns about the role of specific groups in the previous failed sale. Residents are keen to see a positive change, and recognise the benefits this could bring to their community.

Kinloch Castle

• The community on Rum does not have a single view on the future of Kinloch Castle, and it continues to be a divisive issue amongst islanders.
• Most islanders were positive about the idea of selling of Kinloch Castle, whilst also regarding it as an important asset to their island.
• Islanders remembered when the castle was open to both residents and visitors. It brought people to the island and there were more frequent ferry services.
• Islanders feel that re-opening the castle would bring business and job opportunities, which may lead to an increase in the island population and wider benefits (for example, more children attending the school or additional ferry services).
• There were few fixed views as to what the future use of the Castle should be. Generally, it was felt that it would be nice to have a communal use, but islanders recognised that future use of the castle depends on the buyer.
• It was generally agreed by most islanders that the Castle should be sold to a private buyer, with residents keen to see a positive change.
• There is community fatigue around the sale of Kinloch Castle.

The role of other groups

• Residents were dissatisfied with the handling of the failed prior sale attempt, and some pointed specifically to the role of the Isle of Rum Community Trust and NatureScot.
• There were a number of negative comments about the Isle of Rum Community Trust, and confidence in the organisation did not always seem high. For example, some residents suggested that a lack of clear communication from the Isle of Rum Community Trust and NatureScot had caused this distrust and dissatisfaction.

The sale process

• There were a range of views on what a successful sale may involve. Despite negative comments about the handling of the previous sale process, there was optimism that a future sale would be handled differently.
• Islanders recognised that full consensus around a future sale may not be achievable.
• Going forward, it was clear that most wanted direct communication about any sale with each island household rather than using an umbrella community organisation.
• There was also almost universal agreement about all islanders being included from an early stage and having an open and transparent communication process.