The news came as Leader of The Highland Council Drew Hendry promised the Council’s involvement in the regeneration of Inverness city centre at a meeting of the Inverness Business Improvement District (BID).
The meeting was held to discuss the improvement of the city centre by tackling anti-social behaviour and reducing the number of homeless people placed in temporary city centre accommodation.
Mr Hendry said the Council currently spends £3m each year on emergency housing for the homeless.
He added: "We must work together to help vulnerable people who find themselves homeless. The Council recognises concerns about HMOs in the city centre and in response we have strengthened considerably our guidance on the future development of HMOs. I am confident we have put in place the safeguards needed to tackle this."
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A report is to be presented to the Finance Housing and Resources Committee on Wednesday 30 January recommending the reduction of temporary accommodation in the city centre for people who find themselves unintentionally homeless.
The Planning, Environment and Development (PED) Committee has agreed supplementary guidance on how the Council will assess planning applications for Houses in Multiple Occupation across the Highlands.
Members voted for an option that places no limit on the concentration of HMO accommodation in Inverness city centre.
It decided that the Council will only support HMO applications where: -
- It will avoid negative impact both individually and cumulatively to traffic or pedestrian safety on account of increased parking pressures;
- It is within close proximity to public transport connections, social and community facilities;
- It will avoid negative impact on residential and/or business amenity both individually and cumulatively
- It will avoid materially altering the character of the area.
(IT)
