'Bold bid' to tackle affordable homes shortage launched for Badenoch and Strathspey
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A public consultation has been launched on what have been hailed as 'bold powers' for tackling the chronic affordable housing shortage in Badenoch and Strathspey.
Highland Council wants to designate the strath as a Short-term Let Control Area in what would be a first for the region.
The City of Edinburgh Council is also following a similar path to use planning powers to control the number of properties in the captial in the future being used as short term lets such as for AirBnB.
If established, all houses and flats within the strath used for secondary letting would be required to obtain planning approval to continue to be used as a short-term let.
It comes after local Highland councillors expressed their concern that the number of houses and flats being lost to the sector.
They have said the rise in sales for short term lets is unduly restricting housing supply for full time residents and increasing local house prices, and this is to the detriment of local communities.
Council convener and local member Bill Lobban said: “We are delighted to be advancing this project at this time to support our rural population and communities.”
Comments are being sought on the extent to which the introduction of a Control Area would help to address the issue and is being run online until Monday 7 March.
A council spokeswoman said: Highland Council will review and consider all responses following the consultation before presenting a proposal to its economy and infrastructure committee.
"If the committee approves the Short-Term Let Control Area designation then the council will seek final approval from Scottish Ministers before the Badenoch and Strathspey as a Short-term Let Control Area will come into effect in late 2022."
She added: "A Control Area is not a ban on Short Term Let and would not change the planning rules around certain type of accommodation.
"This consultation is also not related to the recent the Scottish Government announcement for all forms of Short-term Lets to be licensed by April 2024."
More details can be found at www.highland.gov.uk/stlcontrolarea .
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