Drew's News
Week 17 Year 3
Portree Link Road
Contractor Strath Civil Engineering commenced construction in February following archaeological and environmental surveys of the site to identify, record and assess any historic, cultural and environmental features, with no discoveries.
Works currently in progress include:
Earthworks and drainage work underway at SUDs (sustainable drainage systems) pond to east of Staffin Road
Drainage and kerbing ongoing on east approach to roundabout
Earthworks and rock break ongoing on approach to Staffin Road where watermains are located
Completion of watermains rerouting meaning that the road can now be constructed from end to end
Portree Link Road is the final section of the northern distributor road around Portree, connecting two key routes in north Skye: the A87 Dunvegan Road with the A855 Staffin Road.
£1.9 million in funding has been allocated by the Scottish Government and the Highland Council to deliver the works which will allow for better distribution of traffic in the area, This week Scottish Water have completed the planned main water main diversions. This allowed the Contractor to remove the old water mains in the site. An additional water main improvement is being carried out adjacnt to the Staffin Road and should be finished shortly. The Contractor has been able to lay more kerbing and has substancially completed the SUDS pond.
Planning
Here are some of the latest applications for our Ward the complete list is available on the Council Website.
Description of Works Extension to dwelling Location of Works Heathfield, Achachork, Portree, Isle Of Skye, IV51 9HT, Community Council Portree Community Council Applicant Name Trustees Of The Portree Free Presbyterian Church Of Scotland.
Expiry Date for lodging Representations 29/05/2026 Description of Works Temporary siting of two storage containers Location of Works Land 115M Of 13 Knockbreck, Knockbreck, Hallin, , Community Council Waternish Community Council Applicant Name RSPB Scotland.
Expiry Date for lodging Representations 30/05/2026 Description of Works Erection of house Location of Works Land SW Of No 5 Clachan, Staffin, Isle Of Skye , , Community Council Staffin Community Council Applicant Name Mr Daniel MacLeod.
Views sought on proposals to introduce Short Term Let Control Areas in Highland
A public consultation opens today (Tuesday 12 May) on proposals to introduce Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCA) in Highland with the aim of striking a better balance between tourism growth and local housing need.
The Highland Council is seeking views from residents, communities, businesses and the tourism sector on proposals to introduce two STLCAs:
Inverness City STLCA, which would cover the wards of Inverness West; Inverness Central; Inverness Ness-side; Inverness Millburn; and parts of Inverness South, including Westhill, Milton of Leys and Slackbuie, and;
Highland Rural STLCA, which would cover the wards of Lochaber; Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Sutherland; Skye and Raasay; Aird and Loch Ness; and parts of Inverness South, including Tomatin and Daviot.
Within a control area, planning permission will always be required for a future change of use of a residential home to a secondary short-term let – where the owner does not normally live in the property but rents it out on a short-term basis. Currently, planning permission is only required if the development is considered a material change of use. Control areas do not introduce a ban on short-term lets, or affect second homes, empty properties or purpose-built holiday accommodation.
While data varies across communities, many locations within the proposed control areas experience high concentrations of short-term lets. In some communities, including parts of Inverness, Portree, Dornoch, and Fort William, short-term lets account for more than 20% of all homes.
Many areas also experience strong demand from buyers out with the Highlands, with a significant number of properties sold or newly built subsequently converted into short-term lets. This pressure is particularly acute in areas like Skye and Lochalsh, where 13.6% of homes sold between 19/20 and 23/24 became short terms lets, and across the proposed Highland Rural control area, where 9.5% of houses built within the last five years now operate as short-term lets.
The consultation also follows concerns raised through local place planning about the impact of high concentrations of short-term lets on local housing and the amenity and character of some neighbourhoods.
Short term lets are not the sole cause of housing pressures in Highland, but they are one of several contributing factors leading to the loss of residential homes in some areas. Control areas are one of several measures being explored by the Council to address the Highland Housing Challenge, which includes a coordinated approach to increase finance for housing delivery, increase land supply and speed up the planning process, and build delivery capacity and confidence across the public and private sector. Around 24,000 new homes are needed across the Highlands by 2034.
A control area has existed in Badenoch and Strathspey for two years, with early indications suggesting it has slowed the growth of secondary short-term lets across the area.
That’s it for this week with another pic of the Link road so thanks for reading.
