Joint planning for major renewable developments on Lewis

Chaired by Councillor Paul Steele, leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, the seminar focused on risk identification and mitigation, with agencies discussing the potential pressures on housing, transport, health and social care, education, community safety and broader island infrastructure.

The session commenced with presentations from Comhairle Officers and renewable energy developers before opening out to discussions on the scale of planned activity and the potential impacts on local services, infrastructure and island communities.

Key points raised during the discussion:

• Emergency service capacity and community safety
• Education service capacity, particularly early years and childcare
• Sport and Leisure services
• Impacts on public and private sector employers in securing a workforce
• Workforce integration
• Transport infrastructure, across freight, public transport and roads

Councillor Steele, leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, said: “With a series of major projects progressing from planning to deployment we are entering a period of unprecedented levels of activity. These developments present enormous opportunities for our islands, but they also bring real pressures and risks that we must plan for together. It is vital that we work together to navigate this period of change and opportunity for the islands.”

The outcomes of the seminar will be taken to a future meeting of the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership for formal consideration.