People across the Highlands are being encouraged to have their say on how the region should develop over the next decade as Highland Council launches a major public consultation.
The Council is inviting residents, community groups, businesses and organisations to submit ideas that could help shape the next Highland Local Development Plan.
The plan will guide where development should and should not take place while setting long term policies on land use, housing, transport, placemaking and environmental protection.
Once adopted, it will replace the existing Highland Wide Local Development Plan together with the plans covering the Inner Moray Firth, Caithness and Sutherland, and the West Highlands and Islands.
The consultation is designed to gather ideas on everything from the future growth of towns and villages to protecting landscapes, improving local facilities and responding to climate change.
Suggestions could include proposals for new development sites, better walking, cycling and wheeling connections, or ideas that influence planning policies across the Highlands.
Chair of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said:
“This Call for Ideas consultation is an opportunity to share what matters most to you, from how our towns and villages grow, to how we protect our landscapes, improve local facilities and respond to climate change.
“Your ideas will play an important role in shaping the next Highland Local Development Plan, guiding how land is used and how our communities develop over the years ahead.
“Whether it’s suggesting new spaces, improving connections for walking, cycling and wheeling, or influencing the policies that guide development, every idea has value.
“I would strongly encourage anyone with an interest in their local area to take part.
“By working together, we can create a plan that reflects the needs, ambitions and unique character of Highland.”
The consultation is being hosted through the Council’s new Engage Highland platform, where people can complete the survey with or without registering for an account.
Registered users can also receive notifications about future consultations affecting their local area and use interactive mapping and feedback tools.
A short Call for Ideas survey is available on the Council’s new engagement platform engage.highland.gov.uk
The consultation closes on 18 September 2026.
About the Engage Highland platform
The easy-to-use platform allows anyone to quickly see what projects and proposals are open for consultation and engagement.
People can choose to register, or take part in consultations without registering.
For registered users, there are interactive mapping and voting capabilities as well as a mechanism for the vital ‘feedback’ loop, to find out what has been agreed and why.
Users can also set up alerts, so they receive automatic notifications when any consultations are launched in a specific geographic area or on a topic, they are particularly interested in.
