Our ten point plan is set out below, with examples to illustrate practical progress to date.
Sustainable development and HIE - the way ahead
New, sustainable income streams from renewable natural assets
- Development of European Marine Energy Centre, Orkney;
- Assisting communities who own renewable generation equipment to obtain ROCs, eg. Knoydart, Fair Isle, Muck;
- Leading (with Forestry Commission) to build local wood fuel clusters in Argyll, Lochaber and Speyside;
- Highland and Islands Forestry and Rural Development Programme (HISTP project);
- Development and financing of a community wind farm, Isle of Gigha;
- PURE project – Shetland based investigation into the practical use of hydrogen technology sea power – testing of tidal generation equipment around Shetland;
- North Sutherland Community Forestry Trust – woodfuel supply chain and Forsinain Sheds development;
- Establishment of Community Energy Unit and delivery of Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative with over 180 projects in the Highlands and Islands:
- Establishment of Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company to assist communities with funding large scale renewable energy projects which generate community income.
Maximum advantage to Highlands and Islands businesses from markets in sustainable products and adoption of good sustainability practice
- Assistance to the wind energy sector (Vestas in Kintyre, Camcal in Western Isles);
- Assistance to Wavegen, UK leaders in commercial wave-powered electrical generation technology;
- Nuclear decommissioning, Caithness;
- Business developments based on recycled materials, e.g. Decocrete Ltd. in Shetland (glass recycling for use in building trade);
- Green Tourism Business scheme - full engagement in the Tourism and Environment Forum;
- Assistance to wildlife and outdoor tourism initiatives capitalising on the natural assets of the area;
- Sponsor of Marine Innovation Award supporting best sustainable development practice in marine resource use in Highland inshore waters;
- Financial support for organic fish-farms and shellfish cultivation – e.g. Western Isles and Orkney;
- Financial support to new recycling companies including a lithium-ion battery recycling plant, Caithness;
- a proposal for a Recycling Innovation Zone and assistance to Northern Tyres Ltd. to develop tyre recycling (around the Highlands and islands).
Widespread adoption of sustainable technologies to minimise the long-term revenue costs and environmental impacts of facilities and infrastructure
- Establishment of Community Energy Unit and delivery of Scottish Community and Householder Renewables Initiative in the Highlands and Islands (feasibility and capital funding);
- Sustainable building technologies using local materials - e.g. Knoydart and Aviemore;
- Energy-efficient design in property projects e.g. the Enterprise Park, Forres (HIE office in Moray);
- Participation in business waste minimisation initiatives – (Caithness, Argyll, Lochaber); Environmental management seminars and resource audits for businesses (Ross and Cromarty);
- Production of a practical guide to creating a sustainable community building.
Thriving community enterprises in sustainable development - eg in local food supply, recycling and waste management
- Homaid Caithness Ltd. – furniture and white goods recycling in Ormlie, Thurso;
- Assistance to ILM (Highland) to establish a household goods re-cycling initiative at Alness;
- Sustainable local food economy (Skye and Wester Ross) and local produce markets (Western Isles, Inverness area);
- Assistance to community businesses to tender for service delivery under the Highland Waste Plan (Caithness);
- Core funding to Network 21 – community-based sustainable development project;
- Food for Thought (Voluntary Action Lochaber); Lochaber Environmental Group (including refurbishings project); C.O.P.E. Ltd. – Support towards a range of recycling initiatives including, furniture, computers and food waste;
- Golspie Recycling Action Network (GREAN) – community-wide paper recycling scheme.
An integrated transport system with a high level of sustainable innovation
- Management of LPG provision through the Rural Petrol Stations scheme;
- Support to the Highlands and Islands Public Transport Forum;
- Development of INVERNET - commuter rail proposal;
- Kinbrace railway siding – award-winning sustainable movement of land-locked timber resource.
World-class environment and sustainable living standards attracting and retaining high quality people
- Core partner in four EU-funded LEADER+ projects in the Highlands and Islands, focused on sustainable development, increasing opportunities for young people and environmental management;
- Assisting the Moray Firth Partnership to determine its future role;
- Highland Small Communities Housing Trust/Albyn Housing – low-impact new-build housing proposal for Armadale, North Sutherland, as part of a local initiative to stabilise and then reverse population decline.
A multitude of access and enjoyment opportunities in the countryside
- Promoting advantages of two new National Parks (Inverness, East Highland, Argyll);
- Development of Highlands and Islands countryside access strategy; Core funding partner in HISTP-funded Highland Access project (footpaths);
- Community capacity-building on path network management (core funding – project managed by Paths for All);
- Support to Sunart Oakwoods and Morven Woodlands initiatives;
- Support to Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust woodlands initiative.
Sustainable settlement principles adopted and implemented in the growth of main settlements
- Core partner in evolving Inverness City Partnership (Inverness, East Highland);
- Core partner in the Nairn Initiative – community-led economic regeneration (Inverness, East Highland)
Communities able to take responsibility for their local environment and natural resources
- Community land initiatives through the Community Land Unit and Scottish Land Fund, along with full capacity building support;
- Highland Biodiversity project, promoting local environmental awareness and environmental skills development across the Highland area;
A Sustainability management system for HIE - managing emissions, energy use, waste management, procurement etc.)
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