Highland Area Profile

According to the Single Outcome Agreement Area profile:

"The Highlands comprise 33% of the Scottish landmass and include 14 inhabited islands. The
area has outstanding natural heritage, supported by the coverage of statutory designations to
protect the quality of the environment.

The population has grown over the past ten years by 4.3%, at a higher rate than for Scotland as a whole, and is estimated to be 219,4001.

While the region as a whole has grown in prosperity over the past 10 years, this growth has been uneven. Population growth and prosperity has been concentrated in the Inner Moray Firth area and some of the more remote and fragile areas have continued to suffer from outmigration of young people and a lack of economic opportunity. Around 35% of Working Age DWP Claimants live in remote rural areas (2007-8). Appendix 1 shows the map of fragile areas in Highland. Population decline is not confined to fragile rural areas but is found in small towns, notably Wick and Thurso.

Most population growth is due to migration, with more people moving to the Highlands than leaving. Population growth is not spread evenly across the Highlands, with relatively high population growth in the Inner Moray Firth area, the Isle of Skye and East Sutherland since 2001 and some areas of population decline, notably in small towns in the north of the region.

The population is dispersed: only 25% live in settlements of over 10,000 people; around 26% live in super sparse areas (more than 25 miles by road from any settlement with a population of 7,000); and 40% of the population live outside settlements of over 1,000 people.

In keeping with the demographic profile of Scotland, the population is ageing. Recent projections indicate that by 2031, the population aged over 75 years might double and account for 16.2% of the total population while the population aged 0-15 might reduce by 9.1% and account for 14.1% of the population. Positive signals come from increases in the number of births in Highland over the past five years2 and in the growth among younger migrants to the area. The balance of the population varies across the Highlands, with most imbalance in Skye and Wester Ross and Caithness and Sutherland with relatively fewer people aged 16-44yrs.

The evidence is that many workers from the Accession States in particular choose to stay for
more than 12 months. Figures published by the Institute of Public Policy Research in Floodgates or Turnstiles indicate that around 3,500 workers from the Accession States were resident in Highland at the end of 2007. Figures for 2008 are being reviewed but indicate fewer registrations compared to 2007.

A growing population and the trend to smaller household sizes have resulted in significant
household growth (between 1997 and 2007 the number of households grew by 13.6% to over
98,000). The provision of new housing has supported economic development and growth in
the construction sector; although in some areas an under supply of housing can constrain
economic development. The number of new houses completed was rising (a 25% increase
between 2005 and 2006 to 1,688 completions, rising again by 7% between 2006 and 2007 to
1,807 completions). In 2008 there were 1,471 completions, a reduction on previous years
and reflecting the crisis in financial markets and the reduced availability of credit.

Public administration, education and health not only account for up to one third of jobs in the
region, but public sector organisations, notably the Council and Health Service are the biggest
employers in the Highlands. The dispersed location of those jobs is important in sustaining
local communities.

The changing economic climate is having an impact on the Highland economy and unemployment levels are rising above seasonal levels expected from October 2008 and are expected to rise further during the course of the year. It is worth noting that increases in JSA claimants from October to January 2009 will be inflated by changes to benefit entitlement and benefit switching, accounting for a third of the increase over this period.

...for those in paid employment incomes tend to be low in the region. In 2008 the average income from all jobs in Highland (both full and part time) was £20,700; 90% of the Scottish average (£22,900) and 84% of the UK average (£23,500). The differentials for full time jobs are similar with the Highland income of £25,500 being 92% of the Scotland average (£27,800) and 85% of the UK average (£29,900). There was no significant change in the gap between Highland and Scotland & the UK in the two year period between 2006 and 2008. (All data from Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings)

The greatest pressure on house prices is found in the rural commuter belt around Inverness and in remote rural areas. Around a half of all houses costing £250,000 or more in 2006 were sold to buyers from outside the Highlands."

So what future opportunities will there be to make Highland a "Wealthier and Fairer" place? Well, amongst others:

"The following opportunities exist to help create a wealthier and fairer Highland:

1. New Highland Development Plan 2010 – to set out how communities can grow in a sustainable way and the infrastructure they will need."...

Do you think that the options put forward by the Planning Authority contained in the HwLDP will ensure that positive outcomes will be delivered for the whole of Highland?