News Archive

Boost to employment opportunities in the Highlands

In the Highlands over the last 3 months 149 employment opportunities have been created through the Council's advisory and business support services.   During a meeting of the Council's Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee held today (Wednesday 20 August) members heard that 71 new businesses have been supported by Business Gateway to start up and a further 122 Highland businesses already serving local markets have accessed advice over the last quarter.  

Wind Farm at Glen Kyllachy near Tomatin Refused Planning Permission

On Tuesday 19 August 2014 members of The Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee have refused to grant planning permission to RWE Innogy UK Limited for a 20 turbine wind farm at Glen Kyllachy near Tomatin.   The motion, moved by Councillor Bill Lobban and seconded by Councillor Carolyn Caddick was that the application be refused on the grounds that it contravenes Policy 67 of the Highland Wide Local Development Plan in that the development will have a significant detrimental visual impact, both taken cumulatively with Farr Wind Farm and on its own, at areas of regional and local significance, notably, as viewed from the Slochd, Strathnairn, Loch Ashie, Abriachan , and consequently, the Great Glen Way.  

Engagement with Europe - a priority for the Council

Over the last year The Highland Council gained approval of £634k of EU grant funding, drew down a further £1m of grants for existing projects, processed £4.33m of grants through its LEADER project and another £481,000 via the EFF Axis 4 Programme.  In an annual report considered today (Wednesday 20 August 2014) at the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, it was highlighted that the Council has also been successful, together with its partners, in making the case for control of €192 Transition Funds.  

ABB to provide UK grid connection for Europe's largest tidal energy project

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has been awarded a contract by Atlantis Resources Limited to provide the onshore grid connection for Phase I of the MeyGen tidal stream project in the Pentland Firth.   The MeyGen tidal stream project is at the forefront of world marine energy development and will harvest the tidal resources of one of the most energetic maritime sites in Europe, the strait connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea between the Orkney Islands and the Scottish mainland.  

Almost Half of Aspiring Homeowners Are Mystified by New Mortgage Rules

Only half (51%) of aspiring homeowners are aware of the Mortgage Market Review (MMR) according to new research by TSB.  Of those that are aware of the MMR, many still don't understand its impact as nearly a third (31%) have tried to find out more about it.  

Cost of Divorce Reaches £44,000 for UK Couples

Money matters take 11.5 months to settle following a break-up Total annual cost of divorce in UK adds up to £5.7 billion 57% increase in cost of divorce since last study in 2006 UK couples are spending more than £44,000 on average when they divorce or separate, totalling £5.7 billion per year* across the nation.  A new study from life insurer Aviva reveals the hidden cost of divorce as £21,979 per person or £43,958 per couple.  

Pensioner Families to Suffer Social Security Cuts Worth Over £6bn a Year

Pensioner families across the UK will suffer social security cuts worth £6.38bn a year by the time the government's welfare reforms have taken full affect, the TUC warns today (Sunday) ahead of a new report on the impact of social security cuts published later this week.   In the run-up to the last general election, David Cameron pledged to protect pensioner benefits.  

1 in 3 Savers Enquire About Raiding Their Pension Pots

A third of savers have "actively enquired" about raiding their pension pots next April, reveals one of the world's largest independent financial advisory organisations.   deVere Group reports that since Chancellor George Osborne announced in the Budget in March that all restrictions to pension fund access will be scrapped from April 2015, approximately one in three clients who have pensions have sought advice on accessing retirement savings.  

A new tool to give rural regions a bite of the bioenergy market

A new online tool called BISCUIT (BioPAD Supply Chain Unique Integrated Tool), has been launched to help the bioenergy market grow in remote and rural regions of Europe and to highlight business and enterprise opportunities to those looking to enter the sector.   BISCUIT is a product of BioPAD (Bioenergy Proliferation and Deployment), a €0.7 million two year project funded under the EU's Northern Periphery Programme (NPP) with partners in Finland, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland.  

Council plea over Referendum fly-posting and road sign damage

The Highland Council is appealing to campaigners on both sides of the Scottish Independence Referendum and members of the public to heed the Council's Highland Referendum Poster Policy and not fall foul of the law.   The public are being advised that only the 15 Referendum Agents registered for The Highland Council area are allowed to display referendum posters on verges and lighting columns under the Council's ownership and control.