Steering group set to start community engagement to develop Local Place Plan for Nairn

A steering group aiming to develop a strategy for Nairn’s development will start reaching out to the community at two main events this summer.

After months of planning, things are moving forward for the first community-led Local Place Plan to be developed for Nairnshire.

The group is formed by Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) Alastair Noble, Hamish Bain – who also chairs Nairn West and Suburban and Nairn River community councils – and Mandy Lawson as well as Morag Holding, chairwoman of Nairn BID.

The project has secured a first round of funding through the community councils for a total of £5000, which will help them start their outreach activities.

Community engagement stands will be at the Nairn Show on July 29 and at the Nairn Games on August 19 in a bid to start the conversation.

NICE Secretary Mandy Lawson said: “Local people know what this place needs and are best placed to advise on local plans.

“We want everyone who lives here to get a say to make sure future developments in and around Nairn get it right for all those who live, work and visit here.

“Over the summer and autumn we will be preparing a series of public events for people to contribute their views on what should be in this plan for Nairn.

“The last time a separate Nairnshire Plan was published by Highland Council was in 2001. Since then Nairn has become part of the Inner Moray Firth Local Development Plan which is produced by Highland Council for a 10-year period. The next one is due out in 2024 and is still being finalised.”

To produce Nairn’s Local Place Plan, NICE will have volunteer support from local community and business groups, and a paid local co-ordinator who will be recruited soon.

NICE has applied to the Community Regeneration Fund to help pay for a programme of community engagement to make sure as many local people as possible have their say. If successful, the funding will be made available to the group in October.

Professional support from a Planning Aid Scotland consultant, and a place planning officer has also been offered by Highland Council.

The steering group aims to pull together and agree priority actions with the local community by early 2024.

Nairnshire councillor Michael Green said: “We are very pleased that things are moving forward for the creation of a local place plan. As councillors, we are all looking to support the steering group.

“Everyone – from the community councils and NICE to Highland Council and councillors, and Planning Aid Scotland – has worked together in order to make this happen.”

Last month, Highland Council urged communities across the region to create a Local Place Plan.

The council’s economy and infrastructure committee chairman Ken Gowans said: “Local Place Plans will be a really powerful tool for communities to shape their future and outline their aspirations. This is an exciting opportunity for communities to identify what is important to them and their area. For example, this could include sites for affordable housing, new play facilities and active travel networks.”

More information is available at highland.gov.uk/localplaceplans. Once Local Place Plans are registered by the council, it is required by law to take them into consideration when preparing its local development plan.

Any new or updated Local Place Plan for the council area must be registered by the local authority by June 28 next year.

n Anyone wishing to get involved or wanting more information can get in touch with NICE at LPP@nicenairn.org.uk

Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.