The Highland Council is currently consulting on a revised version of its Housing in the Countryside Supplementary Guidance. This document will guide location and design of new housing located outwith settlement boundaries in the Highland Council area. When finalised and adopted, the new Guidance will replace the existing document which was adopted in March 2013.
The new guidance sets out the Council’s support for “appropriate new rural housing throughout Highland”, which serves a clear need without placing undue strain on local services and infrastructure. In general, the guidance places emphasis on development proposals that are within or adjacent to settlement boundaries, prevent suburbanisation of the countryside, and support opportunities for development of appropriate locations. In the wider countryside, housing will be supported where it is limited to single houses or development in crofting communities.
The Guidance sets out a list of requirements that new housing proposals in the Highland countryside are expected to meet, which was not present in the existing guidance.
If you would be interested in finding out more about how this proposed Guidance may affect the development potential of your land in the Highlands, and you would like to find out more about the consultation process or discuss making a submission, please do not hesitate to contact our Planning + Development Team at planning@g-s.co.uk.
