Lochaber short-term lets control zone plans to be developed

Highland councillors have agreed that work should be done to develop plans for a short-term lets control area in Lochaber.

The new rules would mean people would need planning permission if they wanted to turn a home into Airbnb-type holiday accommodation.

A report prepared for councillors suggested one in 10 potential homes in Lochaber were currently being used as short-term lets.

Figures also showed that over the last five years 7% of new-build properties in Lochaber have been turned into holiday lets.

Ahead of Monday's Lochaber committee meeting, the Association of Scotland's Self-Caterers said the local economy relied on tourism and self-catering and that "scapegoating" small businesses for long standing housing issues was unfair.

However, councillors unanimously agreed that a process of drawing up plans for a short-term lets control zone should begin and a public consultation should be carried out.

Committee chairwoman Kate Willis said housing availability and affordability was a well-known problem in Lochaber, and a control zone was one tool to help tackle the problem.

Meanwhile, Highland Council's Black Isle and Easter Ross area committee has ruled out a control zone for the area following a review of the latest evidence.

Councillors considered a report assessing the prevalence of short-term lets and their potential impact on housing supply across communities including Evanton, Alness, Invergordon, Tain, Fortrose, Avoch, North Kessock, Cromarty, Tore and Munlochy.

The assessment found that only 2% of potential dwellings in the Black Isle and Easter Ross area were licensed as short-term lets - "significantly" below the Highland-wide average of 5%.

New-build homes were also being converted to short-term lets at a lower rate than across Highland.