The Council previously identified these areas as part of the Structure Plan in 2001, many of which were subsequently identified through Local Plans. However we had not fulfilled the expectation that these would be accompanied by descriptions or other supporting information.
Therefore in November 2009 the Council and Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned Horner and MacLennan with Mike Wood Landscape Architect to produce citations for each of the Special Landscape Areas. Some minor changes have been made to ensure boundaries are contiguous with the NSA boundary as this was the intention. Otherwise the boundaries remain unchanged from the Structure Plan or subsequent Local Plan. These citations help us understand what a proposed developments impact may be on the special qualities of a Special Landscape Area. They do this by identifying special qualities and how they are sensitive to change.
Consultation on a draft Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas (AHSLA) ran from the 24th of September 2010 - 3rd December 2010. The Council's response to this consultation was agreed by the Planning Environment and Development Committee on 25th of May 2011. You can view the finalised AHSLA agreed by this committee below. Also provided is the committee report which contains in its appendix a summary of the issues raised by the consultation and the Council's response to these.
Assessment of Highland Special Landscape Areas
AHSLA Committee Report
If you have any questions regarding these Special Landscape Area citations please contact Katie Briggs on (01463) 702271.
Where to Read them
From Monday the 27th of June the AHSLA will also be available to inspect free of charge during normal opening hours at every Highland Council Planning and Building Standards offices, see webpage below for details.
Planning and Building Standards offices
If you need a hard copy of individual citations we will endeavour to provide this on request.
Link to the Highland wide Local Development Plan
The Council adopted the Highland-wide Local Development Plan (HwLDP) on the 5th April 2012. Policy 57 Natural, Built and Cultural Heritage plus the appendix item for the Special Landscape Areas, is the policy context for these Special Landscape Areas.
Highland Wide Local Development Plan