Election 2021: Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch hopefuls tell us what they think about the key issues facing the constituency in our exclusive series, starting with the shortage of housing and the issue of depopulation
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
As Scotland prepares to go to the polls, we will be asking the candidates some of the key questions facing the future of the Highlands starting with the issue of housing and depopulation. Yesterday Scottish Labour's John Erskine offered his solutions and now SNP candidate Kate Forbes says that she believes potentially restricting sales to non-locals is the way forward.
With thousands of people on Highland Council waiting lists and a surge in interest in people from outside the region in purchasing homes here there is growing concern that the future is not good for those wishing to remain in the north.
The National Records of Scotland say many areas, like Caithness, will see a steep decline in population of more than nine per cent but other areas will grow.
Mid Ross is set to rise by 4.6 per cent, Badenoch and Strathspey by 3.6 per cent and Skye and Lochalsh will see a rise of just under one per cent placing greater demand on available housing.
But there will be population decline in Ross and Cromarty West as it drops 2.4 and Lochaber by 2.8 per cent.
Ms Forbes was asked what she sees as the solution to the housing shortage that is driving many Highlanders away from their home towns and villages.
She said: "As a young Highlander who left for university and returned to the Highlands for work, I am acutely familiar with the housing crisis. In areas that are particularly popular with tourists, the issues are exacerbated but they are not confined to those areas only.
“My suggestions for resolving this focus on four key areas.
"Firstly, continuing to increase the supply of affordable homes is vital. The SNP has committed to deliver 100,000 affordable homes in the next ten years, on top of the 97,000 affordable homes delivered since 2007. You can see these homes in places like Dingwall, which have brought new families into the area. Families need different forms of support, so not all the new homes are for social rent. Some also allow for shared equity schemes and all first time buyers pay no Land and Buildings Transaction Tax up to a certain cap.
"Secondly, I would do more to disincentivise second home ownership. We introduced the Additional Dwelling Supplement a few years ago, which is a surcharge on the purchase of a second home. Discounts for Council Tax have also been removed. would review the Additional Dwelling Supplement so that it is more effective.
"Thirdly, I would put a 'rural burden' on far more homes, which prohibits the sale of a property for profit or to people who are not working and living locally. This has to be done with state-built housing, unless a private owner chooses to do so. It ensures that the property is not used for investment or commercial purposes but as a home.
"Lastly, all of this has got to go hand in hand with rural jobs. The SNP has announced that we will create a Rural Entrepreneur Fund if re-elected, that provides specific financial support to entrepreneurs in the Highlands."
Read more of our election coverage here and you can find yesterday's contribution by John Erskine here.
