A lack of available and affordable housing in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland is a driving force behind fears of depopulation in rural areas of the country. Without the younger generation, local communities, local services and the economy are all under threat, local MPs have warned. In May 2024, the Scottish Government declared a national housing emergency during a Labour-led debate at Holyrood calling for the move. This came after a report released in January by the Highland Council found population growth in the Highlands between 2011 and 2022 was 1.4 per cent, which is less than half …
