How Ian Wace Transformed Tanera Mòr Into a Regenerated Scottish Island

When British billionaire Ian Wace bought Tanera Mòr, off Scotland’s north-west coast, in 2017, he found an island marked by a dwindling population, derelict buildings and large tracts of damaged land. The purchase cost roughly £1.7 million-about $2.2 million at the time-but it represented only the first stage of a regeneration scheme that has since attracted around £100 million, or $135 million.

Why was Tanera Mòr disappearing as a community?

Tanera Mòr, the largest of the Summer Isles, covers around 800 acres (324 hectares). For centuries, it supported communities largely dependent on fishing, including a significant herring station established in 1784. As this economic activity declined and residents gradually left, homes and other buildings were vacated, while the island’s population fell sharply.

Wace first encountered the island when it was on the market, before eventually purchasing it years later. Rather than making it solely a private retreat, he launched a plan to revive its buildings, infrastructure, farming, natural environment and community activity. Since its 2017 purchase, Tanera Mòr’s transformation has involved several strands of work at once.

• More than 50 old buildings have been restored;
• More than 100,000 trees have been planted;
• Former farmland has been brought back into use;
• Roads, paths and infrastructure have been rebuilt;
• New shared spaces now serve workers and visitors.

How have more than 100,000 trees reshaped the landscape?

Reforestation has become one of the project’s most visible elements. More than 100,000 trees have been planted to restore woodland and expand habitats, while eight ponds and hundreds of aquatic plants have helped create approximately 1.5 million litres of freshwater habitat. Around 28 acres (11 hectares) of former agricultural land have also been reclaimed.

What became of the abandoned homes and buildings?

More than 50 structures, including historic houses and other buildings, have been renovated. Rather than clearing the site and replacing it with a modern development, the intention was to retain features of the existing architecture while equipping the spaces for renewed use.

Infrastructure has also been restored. Around 7.2 kilometres of roads have been built, together with paths linking different parts of the island. A former quarry has been converted into a hub containing offices, accommodation and workshops, while Tanera Mòr now includes a pub, chapel, art studio, cinema, gym and communal kitchen.

• Historic houses have been restored and given new purposes;
• A former quarry has become a place for work and social life;
• Workshops have revived traditional craft activities;
• A restored loom now produces tweed associated with the island;
• Communal areas have been created to bring together those who work and stay on Tanera.

How has restoring Tanera Mòr created jobs too?

The project now employs people from across the Scottish Highlands. More than 60% of the full-time workforce comes from the region, and roughly 150 people may be working or staying on Tanera during certain periods. The initiative also seeks to sustain traditional activities, including weaving, sailmaking, baking, farming and boat restoration.

Does Tanera Mòr remain a billionaire’s private island?

In 2020, Tanera was placed into a charitable structure, broadening its emphasis on regeneration, resilience and restoration. The island has also welcomed public-service professionals, including healthcare workers, police officers and members of the British Armed Forces; more than 1,300 people have already taken part in these restorative stays.

The transformation is still under way, but the difference from 2017 is striking. Abandoned houses have regained a purpose, farmland and habitats have been restored, tens of thousands of trees have grown across previously damaged ground, and new facilities have brought people back to the island. The approximately $135 million invested has turned Tanera Mòr into an unusual experiment in the environmental, economic and community recovery of a small Scottish island.