“Whiteness is going to deliver substantial employment in the area and these population statistics will help the Council plan for this future expansion.”

The title of this article is a quote from Liz coming from a Highland Council press release. At the area committee meeting in the Courthouse on Wednesday the members present received a presentation on population figures in the Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey area. If any gurnites are interested, this report here gives facts, figures, graphs and maps.  There is more on item seven of the webcast too, Gurnites can also scroll down the column on the right of the webcast page and pick out any items they may feel are of interest to them. 

Liz's optimistic comment on the former McDermotts yard coming back into action echo her council colleague Roddy Balfour who spoke to the Community Council in Cawdor on Monday night. Anyway here's the rest of the Council press release:

"The communities of Nairn and Aviemore saw significant population growth over the past decade due to new housing developments, while the overall population of the area has ‘aged’ with a large number of people close to retirement according to early results from the 2011 Census.

Strong population growth has been experienced in the main settlements of Aviemore (36%), Kincraig (30%), Nethy Bridge (24%), Auldearn (17%), and Nairn (15%).

Figures revealed in a report to The Highland Council’s Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee by the Council’s Planning and Development Service have shown that the population of the Area has grown by 15.6% compared to the Highland average of 11.1%.

The report also indicated that the area has fewer children aged 15 and under; more young people aged 18 to 29; and a peak of people in the 56 to 68 age group. The report indicates that: “This group will begin to move into retirement during the next decade and eventually result in an increase in elderly care needs.”

Leader of the Nairn and Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, Councillor Liz MacDonald said: “It is extremely useful to see the analysis of figures from the Census data which will help the Council and its Community Planning Partners to plan for the future economic, housing, social care and educational needs of the area.

“It’s also good to see that house building in the area has contributed to population growth in Lochloy Estate in Nairn by 158%, and in Aviemore West by 125% - where the housing stock has more than doubled. With a buoyant housing sector and capacity for more growth - the area is well placed to encourage more development and provide essential homes for families which will sustain a vibrant economy and population growth locally.

“Whiteness is going to deliver substantial employment in the area and these population statistics will help the Council plan for this future expansion.”