Momentum is building behind the Highland Housing Challenge as new figures reveal a huge pipeline of sites and the potential for £3 billion of investment over the next decade.
Councillors at a Highland Council meeting were updated on the partnership approach driving the ambitious housing strategy, which was launched in late 2023 to tackle the region’s long-standing housing pressures.
A call for land across the Highlands has already yielded 250 potential sites, enough for up to 25,000 homes putting the Council in a strong position to meet its target of 24,000 new builds over the next 10 years.
The scale of ambition is matched by a clear roadmap for action, with the Council outlining three key areas of focus: increasing land availability, unlocking new routes to finance, and growing the capacity of the construction sector.
Among the recent milestones are agreements to fast-track development through new masterplan consent areas, and the creation of an integrated property service to support the early stages of building proposals.
Partnership working has been central to the Challenge, with strong collaboration reported between the Council, landowners, developers and national agencies.
Work is already underway with the Scottish National Investment Bank to explore a new joint venture model that would help combine public and private resources to accelerate delivery.
The Council is also clear that housing must be built where it is most needed, with an emphasis on both urban and rural sites across the entire Highland region.
Cllr Glynis Cambell Sinclair, Chair of the Housing and Property Committee, said the housing issue could not be overstated.
“Housing is a crucial issue in the Highlands,” she said.
“We’ll continue working with all our partners to deliver the 24,000 homes our communities need.”
She noted that new homes are not just about places to live, but about sparking wider growth and reversing depopulation in fragile areas.
“Investment in housing supports economic growth, jobs, and regeneration especially in town centres and rural villages,” she said.
There’s plenty of reason for optimism.
The wider Highlands and Islands region has a potential investment pipeline of over £100 billion by 2040, with Highland expected to benefit from around 41 percent of that.
If delivered, it could support more than 114,000 construction jobs and an additional 18,000 in maintenance and operations.
Council leaders also stressed the importance of engaging with the Scottish Government to remove national barriers to progress.
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and the Housing Minister have both voiced strong support for the Highland approach, including at key events in Aviemore and Inverness.
The next phase of the Challenge will be about turning that vision into bricks and mortar with a shared commitment to shaping a stronger, better housed Highland.
