- Description
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We support new rural housing that helps people live and work in strong, healthy and sustainable communities.
To guide this, we use our Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance and national planning policies.
Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance
The Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance forms part of our development plan and is used when we assess planning applications. It was adopted in December 2021.
The guidance applies to areas covered by the Highland‑wide Local Development Plan and the area local development plans.
It gives detailed advice on:
- where new rural homes may be supported
- how new housing should be sited and designed
If your proposal is within the Cairngorms National Park, you should use the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan and its planning guidance.
Read the Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance
How planning policies work together
In 2023 the Scottish Government adopted National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). NPF4 includes planning policies that must be considered in all planning decisions, along with our local development plan policies.
We have published an explanatory note to help show how these policies work together when we assess rural housing applications.
Read the Rural Housing Supplementary Guidance – explanatory note
- Related information
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Interactive policy map
We have created an interactive map to help you identify the boundaries of the different policy areas.
Open the interactive policy map
Self‑build housing
Self‑build is an important part of rural housing in Highland. We support suitable self‑build projects and provide guidance and a self‑build register.
Pre‑application advice
We encourage early discussions before you submit a planning application.
You can ask for pre‑application advice on siting, design and other planning issues. - Strategic Environmental Assessment
