The Highland Council’s Economy & Infrastructure Committee has agreed on two reports that relate to developer contributions and the next steps for the preparation of a new style Development Plan for Highland.
One of the reports endorsed the direction of the new Development Plan, which aims to be inclusive of all stakeholders and communities spanning the entirety of Highland.
Councillor Ken Gowans, who chairs the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, emphasised the Scottish Government’s anticipation for the new-style development plans to be place-based, community-oriented, and outcome-driven.
He said: “This is our current focus, and we are going to develop a programme of engagement that allows people to put their place and priorities on the map, and safeguard and strengthen the resilience of Highland communities, businesses and environment.”
Gowans also stressed the importance of ensuring that individuals have a meaningful role in influencing plans and decisions that directly impact them.
The plan’s preparation process is commencing with an initial phase of information collection, aiming to establish a shared understanding of the region’s current status and future priorities.
With the Members’ endorsement of the report, a series of engagement activities will soon be initiated to gather opinions from individuals residing, working, and visiting Highland. In addition, local community groups are being actively encouraged to formulate Local Place Plans for their respective communities, which will contribute to the substantive evidence base for the overall plan.
