Consultation To Be Held On Developer Contributions Guidance In Highlands

Communities and developers in the Highlands are being invited to submit their views on developer contributions across the region.

Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee have approved a six-week public consultation on a new Draft Developer Contributions Supplementary Guidance to begin early next year.

The new draft proposes a number of key updates to the current plan, such as removing the current threshold which limits contributions for education and community facilities to housing developments of four or more homes. This would mean all scales of housing development, including single homes, would be required to make a proportionate contribution.


Full details of how developers, community groups and individuals can take part in the consultation will be provided when the consultation is launched early in the New Year.

Councillor Allan Henderson said: "Our existing guidance has been in place for a number of years and it is good practice to review it to ensure the methodology for each type of developer contribution is up to date and accurately reflects the costs for providing new services and infrastructure to support our future communities.

"The Guidance is needed to ensure Highland Council has a coordinated and consistent approach to developer contributions. All developers will have the key information they need to know in front of them from the very start. This will be vital to help deliver sustainable economic growth in the Highlands without compromising the level of services, infrastructure and facilities currently enjoyed by those living, working and visiting the area."

Findings of the consultation, along with a finalised version of the Guidance, will be presented in May 2018.

(LM/JP)