Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) 2025–2027
The Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) 2025–2027 sets out our long-term approach to managing our extensive property estate. Covering over 20,000 land and property assets across a geographically vast and diverse region, the plan establishes how buildings and land will be used more efficiently, sustainably, and strategically to support public services and community outcomes.
The plan responds to significant challenges including financial pressures, ageing infrastructure, climate change commitments, and changing service demands. It marks a shift from reactive property management to a proactive, data-driven approach aligned with the our wider priorities, including the Highland Investment Plan, Future Operating Model, and Scotland’s Net Zero targets. At its core, the SAMP aims to create a modern, flexible estate that enables better service delivery, supports communities, reduces environmental impact, and delivers long-term value for the Highlands.
Purpose of the plan
The SAMP provides a clear framework for how we will:
- align property assets with service needs and community priorities
- reduce the size and cost of the estate while improving efficiency
- support economic growth, housing delivery, and regeneration
- transition to a low-carbon, sustainable built environment
- enable new, integrated models of service delivery
It also embeds a corporate, “single landlord” approach to asset management, ensuring that decisions about property are coordinated, evidence-based, and aligned with strategic goals.
Strategic context
The plan reflects the scale and complexity of managing assets across the Highlands, including rural and island communities, and responds to key drivers such as:
- financial constraints and rising service demand
- demographic change and population shifts
- climate change and Net Zero commitments
- digital transformation and new ways of working
- the need for more integrated, community-based services
It is closely aligned with wider programmes, including the Highland Investment Plan (£2.1 billion long-term investment), the Single Public Estate initiative, and our transformation agenda.
Asset Management policy principles
The plan is underpinned by seven core principles that guide all decision-making:
- Stewardship - managing property as a corporate resource to deliver the best outcomes for communities
- Alignment - ensuring assets are fit for purpose and support current and future service needs
- Sustainability - managing assets across their whole lifecycle in line with Net Zero ambitions
- Optimisation - reducing and rationalising the estate to improve efficiency and reduce costs and carbon impact
- Empowerment - using assets to promote economic development, housing and community wellbeing
- Collaboration - working with partners to co-locate services and maximise shared use of assets
- Equity - providing fair, high-quality access to buildings for staff, partners and the public
What the Plan covers
The Strategic Asset Management Plan is structured in three main parts:
1. Policy
Defines the principles, governance, and behaviours that underpin how property assets are managed across the organisation.
2. Strategy
Sets out the long-term approach to transforming the estate, including:
- transitioning to flexible, community-focused facilities
- delivering the Highland Investment Plan and community “Points of Delivery”
- supporting key priorities such as housing, education, economic growth and climate action
- rationalising assets and improving utilisation
- embedding digital systems and improving asset data
- maintaining buildings effectively and addressing significant maintenance backlogs
3. Action Plan
Provides a programme of strategic and operational actions to deliver the plan, including governance arrangements, asset reviews, data improvement, service integration, and estate transformation initiatives.
Strategic vision
The SAMP sets a 25-year ambition for "a modern, flexible, and efficient estate that is resilient, sustainable, and enhances community wellbeing through effective service delivery."
This includes developing multi-service community hubs, modern workplaces, and a streamlined, better-performing estate that supports both staff and residents.