Aviemore hailed as a boom town
Aviemore has been hailed as an "economic success story" after it was revealed that the community is home to the fastest growing population in the Highlands and islands.
Figures released from the latest census, which covered 2001 to 2011, showed that the overall Highland population had increased by more than 11 per cent to 232,132 people.
More than 13,648 homes were built in the region in that period and Aviemore and Inverness were highlighted as "hotspots" where communities have grown massively in the last decade.
Members attending the latest Highland Council planning, environment and development committee in Inverness heard that the biggest population increase was in Aviemore. The village’s population rocketed by 36 per cent – an extra 956 individuals – with 3,613 people classing Aviemore as home in the 2011 Census.
But districts like Castletown, Kinlochbervie, Achtilbuie and Kyle of Lochalsh have suffered population declines of up to 22.3 per cent.
Cameron Thomas, the council’s research officer, told the committee it was vital to monitor the population trends, particularly as it reviewed its current school estate and other services, like OAP care.
He said the average age of the population had risen and there was more people aged between 55 and 66 who were about to move into retirement, which would have a knock-on effect on care services.
"It will build up gradually although we are some years away from the peak," he said.
Mr Thomas said he was looking forward to getting a more detailed breakdown of the census figures from the National Records of Scotland in the coming months and was particularly keen to see what the "workplace population" was.
He said there was a strong link between housebuilding and Aviemore’s success.
"There are large numbers of people in their 20s and single people and there is a very strong private rented sector," he said.Badenoch and Strathspey Highland councillor Bill Lobban (SNP) hailed the population growth.
He said: "It’s often said that there are lies, damned lies and statistics but the latest figures released from the census prove just how successful Badenoch and Strathspey in general and Aviemore in particular have become mostly due our highly successful tourism industry and the benefits of being at the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
"A huge increase in population coupled to high levels of employment are testimony to our success.
However, we must continue to attract higher value jobs into the area so that we are not completely reliant on just tourism."
