New Charter Ensures Highland Communities Benefit from Renewable Energy

The Highlands is on the brink of receiving a substantial influx of both public and private sector investments in infrastructure over the next two decades, coupled with several energy companies eyeing the region for potential investments.

In a bid to ensure that local communities reap the rewards of this growth, the Highland Council has unveiled a Social Value Charter for Renewables Investment. This charter lays down the guidelines for developers to provide community benefits and outlines how different sectors within Highland—including the public, private, and community sectors—will collaborate to support such initiatives. The primary goal of this charter is to promote community wealth building, maximise the economic value derived from natural resources, and create new economic opportunities.

Raymond Bremner, the leader of the council, expressed, “Highland boasts a wealth of resources, and the expanding renewables development, along with the increasing production and investment in renewable energy, has opened up new opportunities for the region.” He further added, “However, as the renewable energy sector continues to grow, it is essential to ensure that the broader Highland community can equally and fairly benefit from the profits generated.”

Bremner also highlighted the Highland Council’s approval of a £2 billion plan in May, which will bring extensive investment across Highland communities. The first phase of this program will witness over £1 billion of capital investment in schools and roads over the next decade.

Bill Lobban, the convener, pointed out that the Social Value Charter does not influence individual planning applications, which will continue to be assessed based on their own merits. Yet, its core purpose is to guarantee a fair share of the substantial profits for the people of the Highlands.

He mentioned, “Despite being at the forefront of renewable development and investment, the Highland region is not currently reaping the benefits nor translating this wealth into the required infrastructure for sustained economic growth.”

Lobban stressed the significance of establishing a consistent approach to harnessing social benefit from investments in renewable energy to ensure maximum advantages for Highland communities.

The charter lays out a detailed nine-point plan which aims to:

• Retain community benefits and facilitate a collaborative approach with local communities to establish a mechanism for transferring residual community benefit sums to a strategic fund to enhance their community.
• Create a Strategic Fund and Fund Partnership to outline investment priorities for Highland communities.
• Develop legacy housing to bolster sustainable communities.
• Support the Highland Investment Plan projects.
• Promote shared ownership models of investment in renewables.
• Encourage skills and training initiatives.
• Establish a Highland Project Bank to identify community projects and initiatives for securing additional investment.
• Streamline grid connections essential to growth.
• Maximise socio-economic prosperity through the planning system.