The development of a Perthshire Second World War prison camp has been hailed as a blueprint for running a successful community right to buy scheme.
Comrie Development Trust (CDT) used community right to buy to purchase 90 acres at Cultybraggan Camp, which once housed notorious Nazis.
The Trust bought the former Camp 21 for £350,000 in 2007 after the Ministry of Defence put the site up for sale.
They have since worked closely with the local community to develop a range of activities, including a community orchard, allotments, sports and recreational facilities and renewable energy projects.
Land reform minister Dr Aileen McLeod visited Cultybraggan Camp to tour the facilities and launch the evaluation report on community right to buy.
Some 45 people are employed in the 21 businesses with premises at the camp, which is also an events venue used by Strathearn marathon and other groups.
The site has 30 allotments, an orchard with produce recently on sale at a pop-up shop in the village, and a polytunnel worked by Comrie in Colour.
In addition, through the work of the Trust’s Heritage Group, the camp has growing recognition as the site of historic importance, with a recent open day attracting 500 visitors.
The positive reputation has produced further success in getting pledges for substantial funding to establish 10 units of self-catering accommodation at Cultybraggan Camp.
This funding will be available if the local community and others show their support by purchasing the community shares currently on offer.
With sufficient take-up of the share offer, and the funding which will then follow, the community is projected to eventually receive £45,000 per year for use on the village developments.
Chairman of the CDT board, Bill Thow said: “The Trust is now looking to build on that foundation of ownership to generate significant investment funds back into the village community, both through its share offer and following community involvement in planning the way forward.”