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A positive change for the Highlands
As important to us as developing high quality, energy efficient buildings that people can thrive working and living in, is giving back and being a positive change to the communities we live and work in.
Guided by a strong social and environmental mission, we are committed to low carbon property development, the provision of high quality, affordable social housing and safeguarding and nurturing our local communities and their interests.
Giving Back
Since being founded nearly 25 years ago Ark Estates has been passionate about making a positive contribution to the communities we operate and live in.
Firmly rooted in the local community.
Ark Estates directors, Willie and Barbara Gray, are proud of their Highland roots and proud to run a Scotland-wide business firmly rooted in their local community. Giving back is at the heart of the business and they are proud to have directly helped raise well in excess of £1m (and counting) for a host of Highland charities and causes.
Managing Director, Willie Gray, who recently received a British Empire Medal (BEM) for his services to Highland charities, has masterminded a number of large fundraisers or events for local causes. Notably, he was the driving force behind 2021’s Maggie’s 500 Cycle which saw 40 local business leaders cover 500 miles across the Highlands in five days, raising over £400,000 for Maggie’s Highlands Centre at Raigmore, Inverness.
Supported over 10+ local charities
Running since 2022, Gray is a key organiser for the annual Bridge to Bridge Highland Cycle which has raised in the region of £500,000 for a number of local causes, including: Àban Outdoor, DAY1 Training & Mentoring, Disability Sport Highland, Dream Believe Achieve, The Elsie Normington Foundation, HALO – Highland Action for Little Ones, Highland Hospital Radio, Inspire Project, Inverness Women’s Aid, The Leanne Fund, Outfit Moray, and This Is Me Highland.
Through Ark Estates - or personally - Willie and Barbara have also supported: Black Isle Cares, Blythswood Food Bank, Cairngorm Mountain Rescue, Dundonnell Mountain Rescue, Highland Homeless Trust (Gateway), Highland Hospice, Inverness Women’s Aid, MFR Cash for Kids, Oxygen Works, Ross-shire Women’s Aid, Scottish Refugee Council, The Highlands Support Refugees, and Trussell Trust.
Working together for a better future.
At Ark Estates we believe in doing things properly, and treading as lightly as we can, promoting sustainable development and playing our part in supporting the UK and Scottish Governments’ net zero aspirations. From design and construction, through to net zero planning, we work with a trusted team of like-minded suppliers and contractors to plan, design, develop and build commercial and residential buildings which often far exceed current environmental regulations and standards for embodied and operational carbon.
Sponsorship
Ark Estates is proud to sponsor or support a number of leading sporting clubs, teams and events. The company is a key sponsor of Solas Cycling - Scotland’s Junior & U23 Women’s Cycling Team - and Ross County Football Club, a professional football club rooted firmly in the Highland community. We also support the Highland Cross - an annual coast-to-coast charity duathlon which has raised over £6m for local charities - and the Bealach Na Ba Cycle Sportive run by the Shieldaig Community Association whose nominated charity partner for 2026 was Prostate Cancer UK.
Social Housing
Ark Estates is proud to work with housing associations, landowners and local government bodies to develop vital high quality, energy efficient affordable and mid-market housing for Highland communities. Working with Highland and Moray Councils, housing associations (inc. Cairn & Highland Housing Alliance), and leading architects, consultants and construction companies, we have delivered numerous much-needed, and award-winning, high quality affordable housing schemes across the Highlands - including at Inverness and Dingwall.
Property Consultancy Services
Ark Estates offers a full development service to a range of valued high profile private and public clients, providing strategic advice and property consultancy services to major stakeholders in the housing and public sector as well as corporate clients and individuals. Working closely with clients to identify appropriate and realistic development or regeneration opportunities, Ark Estates offers a 'turn-key' service to turn your vision into a reality through initial appraisals, valuations, and planning negotiations through to development management onsite.