The Highland Council is preparing a new Highland Local Development Plan to guide future planning applications, development, and investment.
Three key documents have been published to shape the plan and Highland’s future.
Firstly, the Council is inviting new development site suggestions for potential inclusion in the new plan.
Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, highlighted the importance of this process.
“We encourage landowners, developers, and communities to propose land or building opportunities for housing, industry, or mixed-use development,” he said.
Nominated sites must be supported by sufficient evidence to ensure fair assessment.
The Council will also explore options for establishing Masterplan Consent Areas.
Secondly, the Council seeks feedback on the evidence gathered so far to inform the plan’s preparation.
Scotland’s revised planning system requires councils to assess the sufficiency and implications of their evidence before drafting a plan.
Evidence Papers are now available for public comment.
The Council welcomes input on any missing information and thoughts on the implications of the current evidence.
Lastly, the 2025 Development Plans Newsletter provides details on how and when the Council will consult and engage with the public on the new plan.
Councillor Gowans emphasised the collaborative nature of this process.
“We want public, stakeholder, and organisational input to ensure the plan reflects the needs of Highland communities,” he said.
“Our goal is to create a strong, place-based, people-focused, and deliverable Local Development Plan that captures the unique priorities across our communities.”
Feedback from this consultation will help the Council prepare an ‘Evidence Report’ for independent review in 2025.
This report will form the foundation for drafting the new plan.
Residents are encouraged to take part in the consultation to help shape Highland’s future.
