Highlands set for ‘unprecedented’ levels of infrastructure investment | Project Scotland

THE Highlands is to see ‘unprecedented’ levels of public and private sector infrastructure investment over the next 20 years combined with ‘numerous’ energy firms planning to invest in the area, the region’s local authority said.

As a result, the Highland Council has established a social value charter for renewables investment, which sets out the community benefit expectations placed on developers wishing to invest in renewables in this area and what the Highland partnership – public, private and community – will do to support and enable this contribution.

The charter aims to embed an approach to community wealth building into the Highlands; maximise economic benefits from its natural environment and resources; engage and involve relevant stakeholders to understand how the council can continually improve its impact; and unlock economic opportunities for the area.

A total of nine points have been set out in the charter – retain community benefit; create a strategic fund and a fund partnership which will set out investment priorities for Highland communities; create legacy housing to support sustainable communities; support the development of the Highland investment plan projects; develop shared ownership models of investment in renewables; support skills and training initiatives; provide a Highland project bank, identifying community projects and initiatives to secure additional investmen; fast-track for grid connections essential to growth; and maximising socio-economic prosperity through the planning system

Leader of the Highland Council, Raymond Bremner, said, “Highland has wealth of resources and expanding renewables development and the growth of production and investment in renewable energy in Highland has brought opportunities to the area. However, as time progresses, and the scale of renewables increases, there is a need to ensure that the wider Highland community can benefit more equally and fairly from profits being generated.

“In May, Highland Council has agreed a £2 billion plan which will deliver wide ranging investment across communities in the Highlands, with over £1 billion of capital investment in schools and roads over the next 10 years in phase one of the programme. This investment, coupled with the vast potential of income from the renewable energy industry, offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to secure inclusive growth and lasting benefits for all Highland communities.”