Approval for five year local housing vision

Members of The Highland Council’s People Committee have approved the Council’s Local Housing Strategy for 2017 – 2022 (December 6th).The strategy indicates that over 6,000 new houses (of which 2,500 will be social rented houses) will be needed over the next 5 years. Forty-five percent of these new homes will be required as a high priority in Inverness and the surrounding area.The Highland Housing Strategy sets out the Highland Council’s vision for housing over the next 5 years and what the Council will do to:increase the supply of homes in Highland so that there are enough houses in the right places to meet housing needs;contribute to the effective integration of health and social care so that housing design and delivery of housing and housing-related services meet the changing needs of individuals;prevent and respond to homelessness and make sure people have the right help to let them make decisions on their housing options; andimprove the condition of housing and minimise fuel poverty to improve the quality, comfort and affordability of homes.Other communities that have also been identified in the strategy as a high priority for housing development include: Aviemore, Wick and Thurso; Fort William; Nairn; Dingwall; Ullapool and Gairloch; Portree, Boradford, Plockton and Dornie; and Dornoch, Clashmore and Embo.