The Highland Council Strategic Housing Investment Plan priorities

5th November 2025


#
05 November 2025

The Highland Council Strategic Housing Investment Plan priorities

‘The Highland Council's plan to accelerate Affordable Housing Programme with increased Investment and strategic planning that aligns with the priorities set out in the Highland Housing Challenge'.

At today’s meeting of the Housing and Property Committee (Wednesday 5 November 2025), Members welcomed an increase in Scottish Government funding for affordable housing. The allocation of £47.588 million for the Highlands represents an uplift from the previous year’s £35.780 million, enabling both the completion of committed projects and the launch of new developments.

Chair of the Housing & Property Committee, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said:
"The scale of housing need in Highland is rising. Our Strategic Housing Investment Plan sets out a clear and ambitious roadmap to deliver the homes our communities need, both now and in the future. The Council is committed to continuing to collaborate with partners and investors to unlock land, finance, and capacity to increase the availability of affordable housing across Highland.

"Despite the progress to date, the programme continues to face delivery challenges, including land availability, infrastructure constraints, developer timing, statutory approvals, and construction cost inflation, particularly in rural areas. The Council is actively working with partners, including the Scottish National Investment Bank, to explore alternative funding models and overcome these barriers."

Forecasts for 2025/26 include:

545 affordable housing completions
570 new property starts
As part of the Highland Housing Challenge, the Council is implementing targeted actions to address constraints, including:

Identifying new development sites through the Local Development Plan review.
Supporting key worker housing with additional Scottish Government funding.
Collaborating with SSEN and developers on legacy housing projects.
Enhancing planning coordination through the Integrated Planning Delivery Service.
Looking ahead, the SHIP for 2026/27-2030/31 sets out a commitment to approve at least 700 new affordable homes annually, with 70% for affordable rent and 30% for intermediate housing such as low-cost home ownership and mid-market rent. The plan is aligned with the Council’s Local Housing Strategy, Operational Delivery Plan, and Our Future Highland Delivery Plan.

The Highland Council will continue to engage with local Members and communities to ensure investment plans reflect local priorities. The SHIP is updated annually and submitted to the Scottish Government, with a full review planned for the 2027-2031 period to incorporate new data, funding models, and strategic commitments.

Highland Housing Need & Demand Survey - Residents have a few more days to complete the survey, which will allow the Council to better understand the housing circumstances and needs of local households. The results will help the Council plan for new housing and housing services, making sure the needs of all residents and communities are met. You can complete the short survey online using the following link - The online survey is open until Friday 7 November 2025, and can be found at www.researchresource.co.uk/AJHighlandHNDA.html

For more information on the Strategic Housing Investment Plan, read the full report https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/5247/housing_and_property_committee (Item 9).

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

14/10/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's Offices: Go Digital, Bring in Mobile Offices and Save Money?

The banks have closed branches across the Highlands and customers have adapted.  With Highland Council facing serious financial pressures, is it time to rethink permanent offices and take council services directly to the people who need them? There was a time when going to the bank meant visiting a branch.  

12/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
The Highland Council is ready for winter - are you?

Highland Council is urging community groups to ‘apply now’ for its Winter Resilience Programme if they want grit bins in their local communities.   The Highland Council’s winter service starts on Wednesday 14 October and the Council is ready to treat - according to its policy - the 6,787km of roads for which it has responsibility.  

10/10/2026 : Local Authority

France's Schools Are in Revolt. Is Scotland Any Better?

Class sizes, teacher shortages, school buildings and the pressure on teachers reveal a more complicated picture than politicians' headline figures suggest.   Protests over the state of schools in France have raised questions that parents in Scotland might recognise.  

6/10/2026 : Local Authority

When Tourists Take the Homes: Is Europe Losing Its Housing to Tourism?

Tens of thousands of people have been protesting across Spain over the country's housing crisis, with rapidly rising rents and the growing influence of tourism among their biggest concerns.   The protests came after the Spanish parliament rejected government measures intended to strengthen tenant protection and restrict some forms of short-term rental accommodation.  

5/10/2026 : Local Authority

Still time to return Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election ballots

Anyone eligible to vote in the contested Latheron, Lybster and Clyth Community Council election is reminded that their postal ballot papers need to be completed and returned in the pre-paid envelope provided by 12 noon on Thursday, 8 October 2026.   Candidates standing were invited to submit a statement to support their candidacy and these statements are provided in the envelopes mailed out along with the ballot papers to all eligible voters.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Julie Calder wins easily for Lib Dems in East Caithnes bi-election

Dave BUCHANAN Independent 714 Julie CALDER Scottish Liberal Democrats Elected Stage 1 1,522 Charlotte GIBSON Scottish Conservative and Unionist 79 John GLEN Scottish National Party (SNP) 424 Iain RICHMOND Reform UK 283# No further preference 0 Remainder not transferred 0 Total 3,022.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council proceeds to procurement for a new electric Corran Ferry

The Highland Council has reached another significant milestone in the delivery of a replacement Corran Ferry, with the procurement for a new electric vessel.   Funded through a £58 million investment from the Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal, including £28 million from the Scottish Government for the new electric vessel, £20 million from the UK Government and £10 million from The Highland Council towards landside infrastructure, the project will deliver a modern replacement ferry service for one of Scotland's busiest single-vessel crossings.  

2/10/2026 : Local Authority

 
Wick and Thurso Jobs secured and bus services strengthened through D&E Coaches acquisition

Highland Council-owned D&E Coaches has confirmed the acquisition of Stagecoach’s Thurso and Wick bus operation securing local jobs.  This will protect vital services and strengthening public transport provision across the Highlands.  

30/9/2026 : Local Authority

Reforming Scotland’s Councils: Should We Test One Region Before Reorganising Them All?

Scotland is considering one of the biggest changes to local government for a generation.  The Scottish Government has proposed replacing the existing 32 councils with between six and ten regional authorities, alongside somewhere between 120 and 160 community authorities.  

30/9/2026 : Local Authority

Scottish Cities Alliance Investment Conference to showcase Highland opportunities

Inverness will welcome government representatives, investors, business leaders and economic development partners later this week as it hosts the Scottish Cities Alliance Autumn Investor Event.  A two-day programme designed to showcase investment opportunities across Inverness, the Highlands and Scotland's city regions.