A wave of funding decisions, long term planning work, and community collaboration is shaping the future of Fort William and the wider Lochaber area as councillors backed a series of measures aimed at regeneration, resilience, and shared progress.
At a meeting of the Lochaber Area Committee, eight community projects were awarded a combined £270,120.28 from the Community Regeneration Fund, directing money into facilities, housing, transport, heritage, and community led development across the area.
The awards form part of a wider Lochaber Community Regeneration Fund allocation of £793,596.36 for 2025 to 26, with further funding still available later in the year to support emerging local priorities.
Projects supported range from the Mallaig Circular Walk and affordable housing at Clovullin, to community halls, transport initiatives, craft and men’s sheds, visitor management at Glenfinnan, and capacity building through a development manager role in Kinlochleven.
Chair of the Lochaber Area Committee, Cllr Kate Willis, said the funding is about backing projects that matter on the ground and strengthen communities for the long term.
“Community Regeneration Funding directs funding to the heart of our communities and to projects that are key priorities across the area, focussing on enabling economic recovery, regeneration, and community resilience.”
Alongside funding decisions, councillors also supported progress on FW2040, the long term programme setting out a shared vision for Fort William as a thriving, connected, and inclusive town.
The next phase of FW2040 will focus on town centre master planning, transport studies, culture and leisure facilities, and closer collaboration with local partners over the coming months.
Cllr Willis said the year ahead represents a critical moment for Fort William.
“The work underway across transport, culture, leisure, and town centre regeneration will help ensure the town continues to grow as a vibrant, accessible and sustainable place for residents, businesses and visitors alike.”
Town centre planning work will continue to explore new culture and leisure facilities, options for relocating the bus station, and opportunities to unlock further investment and delivery.
Transport remains a central strand, with continued development of the Fort William Integrated Transport Plan, informed by traffic surveys, modelling work, and a public consultation planned for spring 2026.
Feasibility work on the bus station is also progressing, with community feedback highlighting practical concerns such as toilets, shelter, safety, access to the town centre, and better travel information.
Culture and leisure provision across Fort William is also under review, with studies examining existing facilities including Lochaber Leisure Centre, the Nevis Centre, and Fort William Library, alongside future options for improvement or reconfiguration.
The newly established Fort William Business Improvement District has joined the FW2040 Board, opening the door to coordinated town centre projects and closer partnership working with local businesses.
That collaborative approach was on display at the recent Partnering for Progress Lochaber event, which brought together residents, community groups, public bodies, and agencies at the Nevis Centre to share ideas and shape priorities linked to the Lochaber Area Place Plan.
Attendees engaged on issues ranging from health and transport to heritage, youth support, environmental initiatives, and funding opportunities, with feedback describing the event as positive, inclusive, and genuinely useful.
Communities and Place Chair at The Highland Council, Cllr Graham MacKenzie, said the event showed what can be achieved when people work together.
“Partnering for Progress was a resounding success, uniting residents, community groups, and local organisations to help shape Lochaber’s future.”
With funding flowing, plans advancing, and collaboration strengthening, Lochaber is entering a period where ambition is being matched with action, rooted firmly in local voices and shared purpose.
