11th August 2026
A key step in addressing one area of the Highland Housing Challenge was taken today (Monday 10 August 2026), as the Lochaber Area Committee agreed to recommend the area's inclusion within a proposed Highland Rural Short-Term Let Control Area (STLCA).
The recommendation follows a six-week public consultation held between May and June 2026.
Around 68% of individual Lochaber respondents to the public consultation were residents or businesses, while 28% were short-term let operators or prospective operators. Of all Lochaber respondents, 60% supported the proposal and 36% opposed it. Support is notably stronger among Lochaber residents and businesses, with 56 of 73 respondents (77%) in favour.
The Committee's recommendation will now be considered alongside the views of other Area Committees at The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee. The Committee will then decide whether to seek Scottish Ministers' approval to designate a Highland Rural Short-Term Let Control Area.
If approved, a Short-Term Let Control Area would not prohibit new short-term lets from being established entirely. Instead, planning permission would be required before a residential property could change from residential use to a secondary short-term let. Each application would be considered on its individual merits through the planning process. The proposal would not introduce a blanket ban on short-term lets and would not affect existing lawful operators. It also has no effect on purpose-built tourism accommodation, or other Short Term Lets that would have required planning permission in any event.
Lochaber Area Committee Chair, Councillor Kate Willis, said: “The data highlights the scale of the housing challenge facing Lochaber. Almost 10% of homes are used as short-term lets, double the Highland average, while 5% are empty and 4% are second homes.
"The data also shows that 46% of residents cannot afford an entry-level property, underlining the pressures facing local households. While increasing the number of homes available for permanent occupation will not, on its own, solve affordability challenges, it can help ease pressure on an already constrained housing market. In a market where demand significantly outstrips supply, increasing the number of homes available to residents may provide more opportunities for people to secure suitable accommodation and compete more effectively for housing within their communities.
“Lochaber's tourism economy is vital and supports jobs, businesses and communities across the area. However, we must also recognise the impact that housing shortages are having on residents, employers across a wide range of sectors and key workers who are struggling to find affordable homes close to where they live and work.
“There is no single solution to these challenges. Increasing housing supply remains the priority, but in the last five years, over 7% of new houses built in Lochaber have become STLs, which is much higher than the rest of Highland (4.7%), so we clearly need more effective tools to manage this. This needs to happen alongside delivering more affordable housing, bringing empty homes back into use, and improving access to housing across all tenures.
“The potential introduction of a Short-Term Let Control Area should be considered as one part of the wider Highland Housing Challenge response. The aim is to ensure future housing growth better reflects local need while maintaining a strong and sustainable visitor economy. By taking action across a range of measures, we can support the long-term sustainability of Lochaber's communities, workforce and economy.”
The reports relating to the STLCA are available from today’s committee (10 August, item 6) and November 2025 (10 Nov, item 5).
https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/5383/lochaber-committee