Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025. The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.
As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people. All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.
The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation. The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.
A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again. Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".
Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee. On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy. Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.
The Highland Council continues to call for meaningful engagement from the Home Office over its plans to temporarily accommodate up to 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, Inverness. It follows an email on Monday from Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, to Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, which failed to answer questions raised by the Council or address community concerns.
SSEN Transmission has become the first company to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC), marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands. Investment commitments from the company include funding for roads, new homes, jobs, and work for local contractors in addition to a local and regional fund for communities to apply to.
The Highland Council continues to work through the procurement process for the provision of the Wick Public Service Obligation for the Highland Council. We have now entered the preferred bidder stage and have entered a standstill period.
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting (external link) The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
The Inverness Castle Experience has unveiled its very own tartan - a design proudly created and woven in the Highlands, less than 20 miles from the castle, by sustainable fashion house Prickly Thistle. The bespoke tartan celebrates a shared commitment to heritage, skill and community, symbolising the spirit of the Highlands and the sense that there truly is no place like home.
At today's Education Committee (Wednesday 19 November 2025), Members were briefed on My Highland Future priorities and ongoing commitments. Next steps will focus on consolidating feedback from phase one and the Highland Workforce ‘Call to Action’ event on 25 November 2025, which will inform planning for phase two.
Following the success of the Vision 26 family fun day at Eden Court in August 2025, the Highland Integrated Children's Service Planning Board is planning a series of roadshows starting in Wick on Friday 28 November 2025. Ian Kyle, Chair of the Highland Integrated Children’s Service Planning Board said: "The aim of these roadshows is to raise awareness of local support networks and initiatives for families in the Highlands including The Promise, the Whole Family Wellbeing Programme, and the Child Protection Committee.
Wick Street Design project is currently underway, and its total value is around £2.1 million. There are misgivings by local town centre businesses if traffic cannot move smoothly through the main streets.
Expectations are high that a new operator for the Wick - Aberdeen PSO service will be secured very soon. Today the Emergency Tender has gone live, giving prospective operators 72 hours to apply.
Council confirms letter of concern sent to Home Office regarding proposals to accommodate asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks. Council Leader Raymond Bremner, Convenor Bill Lobban and Leader of the Opposition Alasdair Christie have written to the Home Secretary outlining concerns at proposals to accommodate 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks in Inverness.
The Highland Council is taking a significant step forward in addressing the region's housing needs and unlocking development potential by progressing plans to establish three to four Masterplan Consent Areas (MCAs) across Highland. MCAs are a legal planning tool that enable advance consent for large development sites, significantly reducing the time it takes to deliver housing and infrastructure.
