Connecting voices across the highlands and islands

by Eddie Boyd, SFHA Public Affairs Co-ordinator

The Highlands and Islands Liaison Group met recently at the Glen Mhor Hotel, hosted by Cairn Housing Association. Thanks go to Audrey Simpson, CEO, and Shona Mitchell, Head of Public Affairs, Strategy and Communications, for convening a focused and productive event for members across the region. 

There were extensive and valuable contributions throughout the day from colleagues across the Highlands and Islands – including Bryan Leask of Hjaltland HA, Craig Spence of Orkney HA, Lowri Richards of Lochalsh & Skye HA, and Maureen Knight of Albyn Housing Society. Discussions reflected the diversity of local contexts across the region, while highlighting the shared challenges and opportunities facing rural and island communities. 

The meeting opened with an update from Steven Paterson of the Scottish Government’s More Homes Division on the New Affordable Supply Programme. This provided helpful clarity on current priorities and constraints, alongside an opportunity for members to highlight the specific delivery challenges facing Highlands and Islands RSLs. These include the realities of rural development, infrastructure capacity and higher delivery costs, as well as the importance of ensuring national policy reflects the need for the right homes in the right places rather than focusing solely on headline supply numbers. 

Our Policy Lead, Annabel Pidgeon, provided an SFHA update covering ongoing national engagement and policy developments of relevance to members. This ensured alignment between regional priorities and our wider influencing work at a national level. 

A key strategic discussion focused on “speaking with one voice” about the future of housing and communities in the Highlands and Islands. Led by Shona Mitchell, the session explored how housing associations can collectively strengthen messaging around investment, economic contribution and community sustainability. A strong theme throughout the discussion was the importance of recognising the rural context and the role of local relationships in enabling successful development. Members highlighted that approaches designed primarily for more urban areas can unintentionally limit delivery in remote and rural communities. 

Further sessions addressed major operational and strategic pressures. An update on SSEN Transmission’s vision and housing legacy highlighted the scale of planned infrastructure investment across the north of Scotland, and the implications this may have for housing supply and workforce accommodation. Members also discussed the significant challenges around trades, skills and SME capacity for construction in the region, and the role housing associations play in supporting local supply chains and employment. 

There was also positive discussion around opportunities for new partnerships to help meet housing need, including collaboration between housing associations, local authorities, communities and the private sector. Alongside this, members reflected on the importance of clear policy direction from the Scottish Government, particularly around the balance between net zero ambitions and the delivery of affordable warmth in rural and remote areas. 

Overall, the Liaison Group provided a valuable forum to share intelligence, strengthen regional collaboration and ensure that the distinct challenges and opportunities facing Highlands and Islands communities continue to inform SFHA’s national policy and external affairs work.