A bold new chapter is unfolding in Nairnshire as local councillors give their backing to a grassroots vision designed to shape the area’s future and amplify the voices of its people.
At a recent meeting of the Nairnshire Area Committee, councillors unanimously agreed to adopt the Our Nairnshire plan a thoughtful and ambitious expression of what the people of Nairn and Cawdor Ward want to see for their communities in the years ahead.
The plan, shaped through months of local engagement, will now be used to guide key decisions about development, public services, transport, land use and investment across the region.
Councillor Michael Green, Chair of the Nairnshire Area Committee, described the plan as a heartfelt pledge to support community-led action.
“We all want Nairnshire to be a vibrant, welcoming place that nurtures its residents, delights its visitors and offers opportunity to businesses,” he said.
“This plan builds on the amazing work already happening across our area and gives us a shared direction for even greater impact.”
Councillor Green also thanked local individuals, groups and organisations for their tireless contribution to the plan’s development, noting that their input had been “invaluable.”
The Our Nairnshire plan is being recognised both as an official Local Place Plan under national legislation and as part of Highland Council’s wider approach to place-based planning.
What sets this plan apart is the breadth of community involvement.
Over 2023 and 2024, residents, business owners, and voluntary groups came together in workshops, surveys and drop-in events to help shape a vision grounded in real local priorities.
The result is a clear and inspiring list of goals focused on five big themes: sustainable living, jobs and business growth, town and village regeneration, improved green spaces, and better transport connections.
From protecting the environment to boosting local enterprise and enhancing community leisure spaces, the 43 proposals outlined in the plan reflect a deep-rooted desire for long-term wellbeing and opportunity.
The plan also maps 49 strategic sites identified as key to delivering the community’s aspirations, paving the way for more informed decision-making and targeted investment.
This isn’t just about planning applications or infrastructure.
It’s about empowering local people to lead the change they want to see.
Highland Council’s support for the plan reflects a wider shift in how communities across the region are being encouraged to take the lead on what matters most to them.
Initiatives like Our Nairnshire are now part of a growing family of Area Place Plans across the Highlands, from Wester Ross to the Black Isle.
The movement is being shaped by the Scottish Government’s Place Principle, which calls for more collaboration and a stronger community voice in how our towns and villages evolve.
It’s a vision that’s catching on.
In Nairnshire, that vision now has a name, a plan, and a growing number of champions ready to bring it to life.
To explore the full Our Nairnshire vision, visit ournairnshire.org.
