Council to consult on the disposal and change of use of Inverness Common Good land
The Highland Council has launched a statutory Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 consultation giving the Inverness residents until 15 July 2025 to respond to a proposal to dispose, by lease, and change the use of an area within common good land for the development of a green hydrogen production facility.
The area of land subject to the consultation is located at the former waste landfill site at East Longman, Inverness. The area is no longer used for landfill however parts of it continue to be restricted under statutory controls in terms of development and public access. In 2022 the restriction was removed in part within the former landfill site and therefore has become available for development.
The former landfill site is owned by the Council in terms of the Royal Charter of King James VI dated 1591, and as such, considered to be common good land.
Storegga Hydrogen (Cromarty) Limited has approached the Council seeking to lease an area of available common good land to construct and operate a green hydrogen production facility. Using renewable energy sources, the development would produce approximately 6,400 tonnes of electrolytic hydrogen annually, with production planned to play a vital role in the decarbonisation of a large industrial site within the Longman Industrial Estate. Hydrogen would also be supplied to other users. The facility could reduce carbon emissions by 45,000 tonnes of CO2e per year – equivalent to removing 32,000 fossil fuelled cars from Scotland’s roads.
The Council is keen to hear the views of Inverness residents on the proposal utilising common good land. All submissions will be given full regard before a decision is taken. If following the consultation, the Council wish to proceed with the proposal, they must seek the consent of the Sheriff Court.
The consultation representations and responses including the final decision will be published on the Council’s website.
The consultation is specifically related to common good requirements. Should the proposed development proceed, further statutory consents will be required, including those related to planning.
The consultation document and information on the process to dispose or change the use of common good property is available here
Please submit written responses by close of play 15 July 2025 either by email - common.good@highland.gov.uk or by post - Common Good Fund Officer, The Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.