Memorial lecture at UHI Inverness to examine what is the Highland problem of 2024
THE question of how to provide enough homes in the right locations to support growth in the Highlands will be the focus of the Professor James Attwood Memorial Lecture 2024 by Ailsa Raeburn at UHI Inverness this week.
Ailsa, the chair of Community Land Scotland, will give her lecture ‘What is the Highland Problem of 2024?’ at the UHI Inverness Lecture Theatre on Wednesday, 13 November from 6.45pm.
Community Land Scotland is the national organisation that speaks on behalf of and advocates for community landownership and land reform. Ailsa also sits on the boards of Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Crown Estate Scotland and is passionate about supporting communities to become more resilient and sustainable through the ownership of local land, buildings and natural resources. This includes access to affordable and accessible housing for families and working age people which in many parts of the Highlands and Islands is severely constraining economic and community growth.
Today’s communities in the Highlands struggle to recruit and retain key workers and services. Long established sectors restrict growth because they cannot recruit. The renewables sector, critical to Scotland's future economic fortunes, could bring thousands of highly skilled long-term jobs and workers to the Highlands and Islands, but there is nowhere to house them. Ailsa, who studied History at the University of the Highlands and Islands through the Centre for History, will argue that if we want our communities to benefit from this massive transformation, we must ensure new people come, and these new people bring their families and stay.
Ailsa said:
“It's a strange conundrum and one many regions would be desperate for. We have businesses - local and global - wanting to invest and grow in the Highlands and Islands. We have a beautiful place to live with great quality of life, culture, heritage and nature on our doorsteps. We have more and more of our own young people wanting to stay in the region and build their lives here. What is the problem then? It's housing - a lack of housing of the right type, at the right price and in the right places. Communities across the Highlands and Islands are desperate to retain and attract young and working age people, but it's proving more and more difficult to do so unless we address the housing crisis in our local area. I'm keen to share my thoughts on the crisis, and also find out what attendees at the lecture think the solutions might be, and what do we all need to do to build this better future together.”
Iain King, Curriculum Leader of Construction and Engineering at UHI Inverness, said:
“Do you think the Highlands and Islands should be a playground of second homes? Do you care for economic growth, impacting all sectors supported by UHI Inverness and wider UHI curriculum? Do you wish housing for your families, your community - those who are going to make the Highlands and Islands thrive? Do you wish the infrastructure to support? Irrespective of how you answer these questions, the topic of housing in the Highlands and Islands is much to the fore and has a direct impact on us all and therefore of significant interest. Ailsa Raeburn is well informed and placed to present the 2024 Attwood Lecture and we are delighted to be welcoming her.”
Professor James Attwood, a former senior staff member at the then Inverness College – now known as UHI Inverness – enjoyed an international career as an educator in construction. The annual lecture is hosted by the Continuing Professional Development in Construction (CPDC) member organisations on a rotational basis. This year UHI Inverness is hosting the event and its Principal and Chief Executive, Professor Chris O’Neil, will welcome the audience and introduce Ailsa.