MCAs are a legal planning tool that enable advance consent for large development sites, significantly reducing the time it takes to deliver housing and infrastructure.

At a meeting of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee in November, members agreed to take a significant step forward in addressing the region’s housing needs and unlocking development potential by progressing plans to establish a number of Masterplan Consent Areas (MCAs) across Highland.

Chair of the Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans said: “Members endorsed the use of MCA’s in implementing the recommendations set out in the Highland Housing Challenge Partnership Action Plan, reaffirming our ambition to tackle housing pressures and support economic growth across the region.

“Masterplan Consent Areas will allow us to respond more quickly to economic opportunities and housing pressures, while ensuring communities are actively involved in shaping development from the outset. It’s a streamlined yet more inclusive way to plan for Highland’s future.”

The proposal under consideration in Embo is for a phased residential development of up to 150 dwellings on land adjacent to Embo, comprising a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced housing types including affordable homes, together with biodiversity enhancement, landscaping, community woodland, amenity open space, food growing area and associated infrastructure. The prospective developer is Coul Enterprises.

To ensure the community has the opportunity to shape the plans, two public engagement events will be held in Embo. The first of these will be on Thursday 29 January at The Old School, School Street, Embo.

Members of the public are invited to an informal drop-in session from 3pm to 5pm, followed by an evening session from 6pm to 7:30pm, with a formal presentation and round-table discussion starting at 6:30pm. 

Chair of the council’s Housing and Property Committee, Councillor Glynis Sinclair, said: “MCAs can play a vital role in providing housing for local people, addressing the housing shortage and unlocking new opportunities in Sutherland. This is an important chance for the community to help shape the future of Embo, so I encourage people to come along on the 29th January to find out more. We want to hear your views and ensure that any development reflects local priorities and aspirations.”

Comments can be submitted by email, at the event via paper forms, or verbally during discussions. The first deadline for feedback is 13 February 2026, with a final deadline of 31 March 2026.

A second public session will follow a similar format and is scheduled to take place in the same venue on 5 March 2026.

Further details, including maps and background information, are available on the Plan Delivery page of the Highland Council website.