Earlier in 2004 Development staff took hand-over of its flagship project at Craite Barn, Applecross. The scheme converted a Grade B listed barn and former slaughterhouse (see the top photograph) and integrated them with a successful courtyard development of new homes using a highly sustainable and accessible design approach. The finished project (see the bottom photograph), designed by David Somerville, Architect, has been widely admired and is now used as a case study in the development of the Highland Council's Design for Sustainability policy which is intended to provide guidance to developers to design in accordance with sustainable principles. The project was conceived to help breathe life into the community by using housing to promote social and economic sustainability and by empowering people in the process whilst meeting local housing need. It demonstrates quality and innovation in design and construction with the choice of different materials and structures including the use of local resources. To cap a highly successful project, Craite Barn has now been shortlisted for the Royal Town Planning Institute's (RTPI) Scottish Award for Quality in Planning. A distinguished judging panel recently visited the project and were given a detailed presentation on the aims and outcomes of the project by Donald Lockhart, the Society's Development Director accompanied by Community Council Chairman, Alasdair McGowan and Senior Highland Council Planner, Dr Margaret Bochel. The ministerial announcement of the award winners will be made in Edinburgh in March 2005.

The project provided 8 new homes in the remote and beautiful coast of Wester Ross where land availability, high house prices and prevalence of holiday homes has put significant pressure on the ability of young people in particular to find decent, affordable homes in their area. In this highly pressurised housing market there is rarely a consensus on the merits of affordable housing development which is so crucial to the sustainability of some key communities. Nowhere is this more true than in Applecross. By concentrating on quality of design and by empowering the community at all stages of the development process including the implementation of the Society's unique and innovative Local Lettings Initiative , Albyn Housing Society has succeeded in creating a housing development at Craite Barn which works from many different perspectives and it’s clear that Applecross can be a model for similar activities elsewhere.