Nairn development plan is ‘best in Scotland’
The success or otherwise of Nairnshire’s far-reaching Local Place Plan now lies in whether government is serious about placing real power in the hands of communities.
That was the verdict of one of those who led the way in developing the plan, the group behind it holding its AGM last week.
Alastair Noble of member-led community development trust Nairn Improvement Community Enterprise (NICE) was speaking after the AGM and as thoughts turn to the next steps in the journey towards creating a community that meets the declared needs and aspirations of those who live there.
Local Place Plans are a new kind of community-led local planning document legally recognised in Scotland and with a focus is on “spatial planning”, setting out how the people who live in a place want to see local land, buildings and the natural environment in their area managed and developed over the next 10 years.
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The Nairnshire plan covers the geographical territories of Nairn River, Nairn West and Suburban, Auldearn, Cawdor and West Nairnshire and East Nairnshire community councils, with views gathered through a range of public events and surveys.
Among priorities identified are a wish to get the long-promised Nairn Bypass built, town centre regeneration, an emphasis on sustainability - including improved public transport and more joined up active travel routes - and more business expansion space.
“So many people took part in the process of developing this plan and I’m very clear that the government chose to allow communities to decide what they think is best for their own areas and that what we have produced here - what has been called the most complex and best LPP produced so far in Scotland - will absolutely form the basis of the Nairnshire part of the next Highland wide Local Development Plan due in 2027/28,” Mr Noble said.
He told the AGM in similar terms: “I want everybody here tonight or reading this to feel proud of Nairnshire and all it stands for.
“We are a model for Integrated Health and Social Care and Common Good and now I will argue for community empowerment and a genuine democratic control of our future.
“The Scottish Parliament, wisely in my opinion, has given the power back to the people to decide what future they think is best for their own community and locality.
“This is the start of ‘branding’ Nairnshire PLC as a good place to invest, live in and holiday in.
“We must now all work together and deliver this realistic and sustainable future.”
Looking to the future the next step, he said, is to set up a strong leadership group to champion and actually deliver on the plan, likely to include key community stakeholders and representatives from public agencies, included local elected councillors.
“Highland Council, the NHS, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the private sector and NICE - we all have a role to play in making this work and showing that local voices really can make a difference,” he said.
The Nairnshire Local Place Plan will now be published online at www.ournairnshire.org and on the Highland Council website
