Highland Council has agreed to send proposals for two Short Term Let Control Areas to Scottish Ministers following consultation with communities, businesses and operators.

Councillors approved proposals covering Inverness and large parts of the rural Highlands at a special meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee on Monday, 28 September.

The Inverness City Short Term Let Control Area would cover Inverness and surrounding areas, while a separate Highland Rural Short Term Let Control Area would cover Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness South, Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh, Lochaber, Skye and Raasay, and Sutherland.

The proposals will now require the approval of Scottish Ministers before either control area can be introduced.

If approved, future conversions of residential properties into secondary short term lets within the designated areas would require planning permission.

The controls would not apply retrospectively and would not amount to a ban on short term lets.

Existing operators would continue under current arrangements unless planning permission was already required under existing planning legislation.

Highland Council says the measures would give the planning system greater control over the future loss of homes to short term letting while attempting to balance housing pressures with the importance of the visitor economy.

The decision follows a six week statutory consultation held during May and June which attracted more than 800 responses from residents, businesses, community organisations and short term let operators.

According to the council, 84% of residents and businesses who responded supported the Inverness City proposal, while 72% supported the Highland Rural proposal.

Councillor Ken Gowans, Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said:

“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to engage with this process, whether through the formal consultation, attending our public events, participating in webinars or submitting written views.

“We received a wide range of opinions, and the feedback has played an important role in informing our decision taken today.

“Todays decision is the result of extensive and rigorous process that accurately reflects the recommendations made by each Area Committee across Highland.

“The decision is not about stopping short term lets or affecting existing operators. It is about ensuring that future conversions of residential properties can be properly considered through the planning system.”

The proposals now move to Scottish Ministers for consideration.

Once ministers have made a decision, a further report will return to Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee setting out the outcome and, if approved, how the new controls would be introduced.

That report would also consider potential start dates for the two control areas.

Further information on the proposals and consultation process is available on The Highland Council website