Highland Council seeks views on the latest proposal to shape the economy of the Inner Moray Firth – the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan (IMFLDP)
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Businesses and those with an interest in shaping the regional economy of the Highlands are being encouraged to have their say on the latest proposal.
It concerns Highland Council’s latest development plan – the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan (IMFLDP).
At an important time for the Highland economy, the plan recognises the importance of the economy to the region’s built and natural assets and the need to respond to the climate and ecological emergency.
The transition to a green circular economy is at the forefront of the new plan and seeks views on a shared vision for the area’s future.
The measures set out throughout the plan include:
• reinforcing the role of town centres as the prime destinations for people and business;
• directing development to the places which are well connected and have suitable infrastructure;
• responding to the supply and demand pressures within the commercial property market by allocating a range of business and industrial land, both in terms of scale and location;
• introducing a new policy that better safeguards existing industrial land and promotes new sites to come forward for development;
• delivering a strategy which utilises our natural and cultural resources and supports the prosperity of key growth sectors for the region’s future, particularly sustainable tourism and renewable energy.
A council spokesman said: "On this last point, the plan recognises the immense potential which exists in this region by fully utilising our assets, no more so than for renewable energy generation.
"With multi-billion pounds to be invested in floating offshore wind on our doorstep, it has potential to create thousands of high quality jobs. The proposition from cross-sector partnership Opportunity Cromarty Firth (OCF) aims for the region to become a world-leader in the emerging floating offshore wind and green hydrogen industries.
"It forms an important part of the economic strategy within the plan as it has potential to transform the economy and help to regenerate communities across Highland.
"As this plan will affect where people work and influence how many and what type of future jobs will be available, we would encourage everyone to read through the plan and share any views they may have."
The deadline for comments is midday on June 17, 2022. To view the plan and comment please follow the link below - videos are available on the web page to help guide people through the document and how to comment on the council's website.
