Environmental schemes on the agenda of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee

Members of Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee will have the opportunity to discuss compensatory planting schemes and biodiversity enhancement when they meet on Thursday 29 May.

Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: “Environmental schemes are important for our communities as they ensure that biodiversity is improved when new infrastructure projects are developed. This paper will give Members the opportunity to discuss the benefits of advance scheme endorsement which could support developers to deliver positive impacts more effectively and assist the Council in supporting our commitment to sustainable development.”

Members will be asked to agree to the principle of the Council endorsing proposed schemes in advance of planning permission, as well as a fee structure for major development proposals.

Cllr Gowans added: “Developers delivering major infrastructure projects often find it challenging to secure sufficient land for their environmental scheme obligations which can result in delays to projects and sub-optimal biodiversity improvements. I look forward to discussing how we could potentially mitigate these delays and avoid negative environmental impacts whilst fulfilling our statutory obligations.”

The papers for the Economy and Infrastructure Committee are available on the Council’s website.