Election 2021: Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch candidates tell how they would address the issues of depopulation and housing shortages
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Before Scotland goes to the polls, we have been asking the candidates in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch what they would do about some of the key problems facing the Highlands. Now Liberal Democrat Denis Rixson has his say what he would do about housing shortages and depopulation.
Amid a background of higher demand and lower availability many young Highlanders struggle to get their feet on the property ladder and are forced to look elsewhere in Scotland to make a home.
So we asked Mr Rixson how he would tackle the twin issues of depopulation and housing shortages.
He said: “The obvious answer is to build more houses – but there are difficulties with this:
a) the shortage and cost of suitable land
b) the costs of infrastructure – dealing with rock, peat, water
c) the absence, in some areas, of sufficient local building contractors
d) the higher costs of transport and building in the Highlands
“At the moment there are substantial waiting lists. Demand greatly exceeds supply.
“There is also erosion of the existing housing stock when it is used for holiday lets, AirBnB etc. Many of these lets are of privately-owned property and it is difficult to intervene with an individual’s right to do with their property and assets as they wish. However, when the proper functioning of the housing market is as badly distorted as it is in the north west Highlands then voters can reasonably expect government intervention.
“We can and do charge council tax on second homes. That tax is then recycled to help with infrastructure for new housing. However, it is not a sufficient disincentive. We could increase the Council tax element – but that might not be popular with Highland property owners and it would have to increase dramatically to have a real effect.
“We can’t tackle Highland’s housing crisis without comprehensive Land Reform and some type of Land Value Tax. Land, wealth and power have always been hopelessly imbalanced in the Highlands. My preference is a form of Land Value Tax that is a disincentive to leaving land underused.
“We don’t want to place undue taxes on land that is used productively for agriculture or forestry. But we can’t let the Highlands become a refuge for the rich. We need to tax Highland landowners to ensure they use their land productively; or sell it - so that others can.”
To read the other candidates views and see the rest of our election coverage click here
