This week, a collaborative masterplanning process begins for two significant development sites at Ardersier and Essich Road.
This follows a Council decision in May 2026 to progress three Proposed Masterplan Consent Area Schemes (PMCAS) in Highland, following initial public consultation in early 2026.
A Project Group has been established for each of the Ardersier and Essich Road Masterplan Consent Areas (MCA) sites. The Group comprises Council officers, community representatives, developer representatives and an independent Masterplan Facilitator. The Groups will first meet in early September to begin a series of workshops for jointly preparing the site masterplan. This process will result in co-authored documentation equivalent to a full planning application.
Highland Council has appointed Stephen Tucker of 72 Degrees North as Masterplan Facilitator to support the preparation of the PMCAS for Ardersier and Essich Road. Mr Tucker has extensive experience in masterplanning across Scotland and will provide expert, independent guidance to the Project Group helping it formulate the masterplan.
Chair of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “The establishment of two MCA Project Groups marks a significant milestone for Masterplan Consent Areas in Highland, and for the Highland Housing Challenge. We are excited to work with Mr Tucker and community representatives and thank them in advance for their commitment and willingness to participate in this new collaborative masterplanning process.”
The Highland Housing Challenge was declared in June 2024, in recognition of the issues facing the Council, its partners, and communities across Highland in meeting current and anticipated future demand for housing in the area. The Housing Challenge was based on an emerging picture of future demand, relating to planned economic development activity.
The Council is bringing forward solutions to meet this challenge, which are complex and interdependent. No one area of work or sector is able to deliver this in isolation. Progressing Masterplan Consent Areas was identified as a key solution in the Highland Housing Challenge Partnership Action Plan.
The Council’s South Planning Applications Committee will take a decision in 2027 on the detail of each PMCAS prior to its publication for wider public and other stakeholder consultation.