Classification of the Highland Coast

Work is now well advanced on a classification of the Highland coast for planning purposes as recommended in National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 13.  The draft report (PDF 2.9MB) providing a draft classification will be out to public consultation from 31st August for 8 weeks. This will help to underpin the Council’s Coastal Development Strategy which will be prepared as part of its Highland-wide Development Plan.

NPPG 13, published in 1997, advised Scottish local authorities to classify their coasts using three broad categories – “Developed”, “Undeveloped” and “Isolated” - and it provided definitions and policy guidance for each of these. To support this work, the Scottish Executive also published a Planning Advice Note (PAN 53) which gave further guidance on the indicators and criteria to be used for the area classification. The classification for Highland follows this basic methodology with some minor amendments to the PAN 53 indicator criteria where this was felt necessary to reflect local conditions.

For further information, please contact:
Shona Turnbull, email shona.turnbull@highland.gov.uk, tel. 01463 702 270 or
Colin Wishart, email colin.wishart@highland.gov.uk, tel. 01463 702 272.