Plans to make Dornoch Beach more accessible to people with disabilities and additional support needs have taken another step forward, with local residents being invited to have their say on a proposed new toilet facility.
Highland Council launched a statutory consultation on Thursday 15 October over the proposed use of Common Good land beside Dornoch Links Beach car park, with responses being accepted until 10 December 2026.
The proposal comes from Dornoch Beach Wheelchairs, a local charity working to make the beach more accessible for people who might otherwise struggle to enjoy it.
The group wants to install a Changing Places toilet, providing specialist facilities for visitors who cannot safely or comfortably use a conventional accessible toilet.
Unlike standard accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities offer additional space and specialist equipment, including an adult sized changing bench, a ceiling hoist and sufficient room for carers to provide assistance.
For people with complex disabilities and their families, access to such facilities can make the difference between being able to enjoy a day at the beach and having to stay away altogether.
The charity already operates a beach wheelchair storage facility at Dornoch Links, helping people with limited mobility gain access to the sand and shoreline.
Its latest proposal would build on that work by providing facilities designed to support visitors with more extensive personal care requirements.
Under the plans, the charity would manage both the existing wheelchair storage facility and the proposed Changing Places toilet through a 25 year lease.
However, the land involved forms part of Dornoch’s Common Good assets, meaning the Council must follow a statutory consultation process before agreeing to its disposal or a change in how it is used.
Common Good land is held by local authorities for the benefit of the communities to which it belongs, with additional legal safeguards governing decisions about its future.
The consultation is being carried out under Section 104 of the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.
Highland Council wants to hear from Dornoch residents and other interested parties about the potential benefits of the proposal, as well as any concerns about its effect on the land.
That includes questions about how the facility could affect the existing use, enjoyment and management of the beach car park and surrounding Common Good area.
All representations submitted before the deadline will be considered before councillors make a decision on whether to support the proposal.
Even if the Council agrees, the project cannot automatically proceed.
Consent from the Sheriff Court would also be required before any disposal or change of use of the Common Good land could take place.
Further statutory permissions, including planning consent where required, would need to be obtained separately.
The consultation therefore represents an early stage in the process rather than approval for construction.
For Dornoch Beach Wheelchairs, the proposed facility would complement its existing work and help remove another practical barrier preventing people with disabilities from enjoying the coastline.
Highland Council has confirmed that consultation responses and its eventual decision will be published on its website.
Residents and other interested parties have until Thursday 10 December 2026 to submit their views.
The consultation and associated documentation can be accessed via the Council’s new online consultation platform, Engage Highland
Please submit written responses no later than midnight on the 10 December 2026 either by:
Online consultation platform: Engage Highland
Email – common.good@highland.gov.uk
Post – Common Good Fund Officer, The Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX
