Controversial policy for short term lets control area for Badenoch and Strathspey takes big step forward
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The establishment of a short-term let control area for Badenoch and Strathspey has moved a big step closer today.
Members of the full Highland Council agreed the non-statutory STL control area planning policy for use in the determination of applications and the timetable to move forward.
The required notice will be published in the Strathy and on the council’s website in January, next year.
Following this, the previously agreed information session will take place in late January and February 2024 before the control area cover the entire strath is established on Monday 4 March 2024.
A council spokesperson said: "Once a control area has been designated the proposed use of a dwelling house as a short-term let will automatically require planning permission.
"The need for planning permission for the use of properties other than dwelling houses for short-term letting and tourist accommodation will not change as a result of a control area being established."
Local members who instigated the move have welcomed today's backing in council chambers.
Councillor Russell Jones, chair of the council's local area committee, said: “Currently there is a severe imbalance in the market and these figures highlight our concern about the impact short-term letting is having on local housing and validates our efforts to have a short-term let control area for the strath.
"I encourage as many existing and prospective operators as possible to come to the information sessions that will take place early next year before the control area commences in March.”
Councillor Bill Lobban led efforts to secure the change.
He said: "The housing marketplace in Badenoch and Strathspey is in meltdown with local residents and incoming staff unable to find affordable accommodation.
"We need visitors as they are the mainstay of our economy but we also need homes for the people who live and work in the area and there is no point building more and more houses if local people are completely priced out of the market.
"The new STL Control Area will not solve the problem overnight but is just one of a mix of innovative solutions we will have to consider going on into the future.”
Councillor Ken Gowans, chair of the council's economy and infrastructure committee, said: “This could be a key policy for the Highlands if it proves successful for Badenoch and Strathspey, so I am pleased that the policy to determine applications has been agreed and implementation takes a step closer.”
The local authority said it has also already received a number of planning applications from new and existing short-term let operators seeking to secure planning permission in the event the control area is established.
Now members have approved the recommendations in the report, all of these pending applications will be determined in accordance with the Development Plan (including NPF4) and the revised non-statutory planning guidance.
Full details on the information sessions will be publicised in January 2024.
In the meantime, anyone with any queries should email devplans@highland.gov.uk or visit the council’s website for details – https://highland.gov.uk/shorttermlets
