Highland Council Reports Strong Progress on Community Wealth Building Strategy

21st August 2025

At today's meeting of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, members discussed a report on the latest update on the Community Wealth Building (CWB) Strategy. The update highlighted significant progress across key areas of economic development aimed at retaining and growing wealth within local communities.

Achievements have been made across the five pillars of the CWB model: spending, workforce, land and property, financial power, and inclusive ownership.

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: "This update demonstrates our commitment to building a fairer, more inclusive Highland economy. By embedding community wealth building into everything we do, from procurement to planning, we're ensuring that local people and businesses benefit directly from economic activity."

Key highlights include:

Procurement for Community Benefit: Since the adoption of the Council’s Community Benefit Policy in September 2024, all procurement activity now includes fair work practices and community benefit clauses. A new ‘Highland Project Bank’ is being developed to connect private sector contributions with local community projects.

Fair Employment and Skills Development: The launch of the Highland Employer Charter is underway, with eight major employers already engaged. The Council is also piloting innovative childcare solutions to support workforce participation, particularly in rural areas.

Affordable Housing and Land Use: The Highland Housing Challenge has identified over 250 potential development sites, with a target of delivering 12,000 new homes over the next decade. A new joint venture model is being explored with the Scottish National Investment Bank.

Renewable Energy and Financial Power: The Council is embedding community benefit into renewable energy developments through the Highland Social Value Charter. Strategic investment planning is underway to ensure long-term local returns from energy projects.

Inclusive Ownership and Local Priorities: Area Place Plans have now been adopted across nearly all committee areas, enabling communities to shape local development and investment priorities. Work continues to promote community ownership models and support local enterprise.

The Council will continue to work closely with regional and national partners, including the Highland Community Planning Partnership and the Scottish Local Authorities CWB Network, to align efforts and share best practice.

The next formal update on the strategy will be presented in early 2026, with ongoing monitoring and evaluation embedded across Council services.