New dark skies policy could ‘help Highland night-time economy’

Highland Council said its region, which has large, sparsely populated areas, offered stargazers some of the darkest skies in Europe.

Weather-permitting, and when conditions are right, the Highlands offers the chance to see the Milky Way and displays of the aurora borealis – the Northern Lights.

Cromarty Firth Liberal Democrat councillor John Edmondson, and Independent Inverness South councillor Duncan Macpherson, said there were communities in their wards that did not want street lights spoiling views.

But Ruraidh Stewart raised concerns more planning rules could put off developers, and affect the local authority’s efforts to build 24,000 new homes over the next 10 years.

Ken Gowans said the policy would be “balanced” and not applied to every new development.

He said planning officials had produced a “really important” report, adding: “It opens the door to night-time tourism.

“The Highlands have some of the darkest skies in Europe and we need to capitalise on that.”

The committee agreed that further work should be done on the proposals.