Housing
One of the most immediate barriers to population renewal in the North West is housing.
Without affordable, suitable homes, people cannot stay in the area and new residents cannot move in.
Why housing is such a challenge
The North West faces a unique combination of pressures that make it difficult to provide enough homes for local people and new residents. These challenges are well understood by communities across the area and include:
House prices around 6x the median full-time salary
Social housing provision as low as 9.8% in some communities
Holiday lets and second homes reducing availability
Higher construction costs due to limited local trades and capacity
86% of the NW2045 area covered by environmental designations
What is happening now
Community-led housing projects are being progressed across the area by development trusts, Highland Council and private-sector employers.
Highland Council’s Repopulation Coordinator has also been working with communities to identify sites and support developments.
Together, planned developments across the area could deliver around 80 new homes, increasing the housing stock by around 3%.
Why a longer-term approach is needed
Despite the progress already being made, the scale of the challenge means individual developments alone will not be enough.
A more joined-up approach is needed alongside the work already happening in communities, including:
- Packaging developments where possible
- Taking collective approaches to land availability
- Reducing construction barriers and costs
- Improving access to funding
- Coordinating planning and delivery
Housing and the NW2045 Community-Led Vision
Access to affordable, suitable housing is essential to achieving the NW2045 Community-Led Vision, particularly the ambition to make the North West a place where young people and families want to live and work.
Addressing housing challenges will help retain existing residents, attract new families and support thriving, sustainable communities.
The NW2045 Community-Led Vision sets out the wider ambitions for the region and provides a framework for working together towards a more sustainable future.
Sources and further reading
Some of the housing statistics and context used on this page draw on research by BIGGAR Economics, including work relating to the North Coast 500 and wider regional economic conditions.
