Call for more affordable homes and sensitivity over short-term lets in village near Loch Ness
Concerns are being raised over a shortage of affordable housing plus the impact of short-term let properties in a Highland community popular with tourists.
The village of Drumnadrochit near the shores of Loch Ness draws in hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, providing a massive boost to the local economy.
But there is disquiet about the lack of affordable housing plus the number and type of properties used as visitor accommodation.
It comes as Glen Urquhart Community Council has launched a survey in partnership with the Communities Housing Trust to determine housing needs in the area.
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Anecdotally, locals say there is a problem with a shortage of housing for younger and single people who want to live and work in the village and that hospitality businesses are struggling to get and retain staff because of this.
Another potential looming demand on housing could be the need for accommodation for construction workers for possible renewable projects.
One local tourism business operator revealed his difficulties in finding somewhere to live while another voiced her objections to an application for a short-term licence on a new-build flat in the village.
B&B owner Julie Dell is questioning the suitability of the property for use as visitor accommodation in the recently-completed Springfield development in Craigmonie Road.
The application has been submitted to Highland Council in the name of a London-based company director.
“Not only is it depriving local people of a flat to buy or rent, the income generated won't even go back into the local economy - a double whammy,” said Mrs Dell, of Morelea.
She acknowledged the importance of tourism to the area and stressed that as a someone who worked in the tourism sector, she was not against short-term lets but felt there had to be a balance and more rigour around the type of houses potentially getting licences.
She felt the property, within a small block, was more suited to first-time buyers’ accommodation.
“It is not going to be a good experience for short-term letters going in and also for the people there, who are trying to build a little community, to have people in and out every few days,” she said.
Mike Bell, who helps run family-owned Loch Ness Cruises, encountered months of difficulties in finding rented accommodation in the area but eventually found a long-term let “through a friend of a friend”.
“I am fortunate to have found it but I have other friends who want to live in Drumnadrochit and have had to go to Inverness,” he said.
He continued: “The new housing development is one opportunity for younger people to buy a home and live in Drumnadrochit but when you are getting that converted into short-term lets, it doesn’t seem to fit.
“I work in tourism. I am not against short-term lets. They have to be more sensitive where they are going.”
Bill Smart, vice chairman of Glen Urquhart Community Council, said a housing needs survey was being carried out in the area in preparation for lodging a Local Place Plan with Highland Council by the end of September. This will be used when preparing the local development plan and assessing planning applications.
“We are waiting to get the results in the next few weeks but initial reaction is that more people want two-bedroom houses.”
Highland economist Tony Mackay said a shortage of affordable housing and short-term lets were now common issues in the Highlands but could be particularly serious for smaller towns and villages like Drumnadrochit.
“I believe there are two main problems - a big fall in local housebuilding and the conversion of many existing properties into Airbnbs, or similar,” he said.
Housing statistics published by the Scottish Government for 2023-24 showed 19,623 completions - 17 per cent lower than the previous year - while there were 16,404 new starts, a drop of 15 per cent.
Mr Mackay said declines in the Highland region were worse.
“Some of the local housebuilders have had serious financial problems and reduced their operations,” he said
Springfield chief executive Innes Smith said two-thirds of its homes sold so far at Drumnadrochit had been for local people.
“Tourism is a positive thing for the economy and Drumnadrochit depends on it,” he said. “It is not for Springfield to dictate who should and shouldn’t buy our high-quality, energy-efficient, homes.
“We are in the midst of a national housing crisis where we urgently need more homes. There are limited homes available for buyers and renters – which has been exacerbated following the government-enforced rent freeze and caps, especially in popular rural locations, such as Drumnadrochit.
“The solution is simple: we need more housing to meet the demand for all the people that need it, and it is vital the government think before introducing new restrictions.”
Highland Council said there are 64 applicants on the Highland Housing Register who have stated the Drumnadrochit area is their first choice of area preference.
