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Election 2021: In our ongoing series asking candidates some of the key questions facing the Highlands, Labour’s Rhoda Grant states what she would do about the issues of depopulation and housing shortages


By Scott Maclennan

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Scottish Labour candidate Rhoda Grant.
Scottish Labour candidate Rhoda Grant.

Having already heard from the Greens Ariane Burgess and the SNP’s Fergus Ewing, now we hear from Labour’s Rhoda Grant who says innovation could be the key.

The Inverness and Nairn constituency is expecting population increases over the next decade but the area is already suffering under the burden of thousands of people on waiting lists for social housing.

Many developments yet to come online are yet to come online so the shortfall in housing is a mounting problem, with many choosing ultimately to live elsewhere.

Mrs Grant was asked what she would do about the issues of depopulation and housing shortages if he is elected.

She said: "I hear real concerns about the increase in housing in Inverness and whether the infrastructure can cope. Can the roads, schools and leisure facilities really cope with that number of people?

“We live in a beautiful part of the world and many others want to join us, but we need to make sure that we manage how that happens so that it does not impact or disadvantage local people.

“There are also concerns throughout the constituency about the need for housing for young people, to allow them to stay in the communities where they grew up, this is especially so inside the National Park.

“I am keen that we pilot solutions, such as a local market that keeps house prices in line with what people can afford. Setting restrictions on second homes and holiday lets to ensure they don’t force out locals or artificially inflate prices beyond the means of local people. There are many solutions available we need to empower local people to use the ones that are most appropriate.

“We need to build many more homes in the right place. We will commit to building 120,000 more homes in Scotland. These homes need to be constructed in a way that is environmentally friendly both during the build but also during their lifetime. They need to be carbon neutral, not only for the good of our planet but also for the good of those who live in them.

“Heating homes can be very expensive, and these costs are set to rise. This is especially the case for homes that are not on the gas grid.

“Fuel poverty forces people to make the choice between heating and eating – this is simply not right when we have the knowledge and wherewithal to make homes carbon neutral and easy to heat."

Click here for the first part of our series with Greens candidate Arian Burgess and click here for the SNP's Fergus Ewing's take


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