EMMA RODDICK DISCUSSES SUSTAINING RURAL COMMUNITIES AT RURAL HOUSING SCOTLAND CONFERENCE

Emma attended the 2024 Rural Housing Scotland Conference in Aviemore on Friday [23^rd of February 2024] to discuss the Scottish Government’s Addressing Depopulation Action Plan and how to sustain rural communities in the Highlands & Islands.

The plan, which was published last week [16^th of February], is particularly important to rural communities that are already facing a decline in their population.

The annual conference aims to bring communities and organisations across the Highlands & Islands together to discuss how best to deliver and develop housing across rural areas, gaining insight from attendees’ knowledge and experiences.

Speaking on the conference, Emma said:

“It was great to attend the Rural Housing Scotland Conference to discuss how we can improve housing in rural areas across the Highlands and Islands.

“We know that these areas are already facing depopulation and that Scotland’s population is set to decline from 2033; housing is a key driver of this decline that we need to tackle.

“Housing is a fundamental need, and a lack of housing in rural areas affects other aspects as well such as transport, education, and the local economy – they are all connected.

“We need affordable housing so that young folk can afford to stay in the Highlands & Islands, should they wish, as we need more working-age people to sustain our rural communities.

“Today was a great opportunity for communities and stakeholders to come together and speak about how they think we can best solve the lack of housing in these areas and ensure that our rural communities can continue to thrive.”

You can read the Scottish Government’s Addressing Depopulation Action Plan here.