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

At this week’s meeting of the council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, members endorsed the use of MCAs in implementing the recommendations set out in the Highland Housing Challenge Partnership Action Plan, reaffirming the council’s ambition to deliver 24,000 new homes over the next decade

Chair of the Environment & Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “This is a decisive step forward in our commitment 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.”

Following detailed assessment and the discussions, the committee will recommend the “long-list” of potential Masterplan Consent Areas with an agreement to progress sites at Essich Road, Embo and Ardersier.

In addition, the Committee will recommend that the council agreed to identify a fourth MCA site on the west coast, in proximity to Kishorn Yard, to support ongoing investment and respond to local housing demand.

The MCA approach offers a faster, more coordinated planning process, with five key decision points where Members can influence or amend proposals. It also strengthens local democracy by giving communities and elected Members a greater role in shaping development relative to the conventional planning application process where local parties can only react to what developers submit to them.

The council’s Planning team will now begin the next phase of work, consultation with communities, landowners and agencies. If successful, the MCA model could be expanded to other housing and development opportunities across Highland.