New dark skies policy could boost night-time economy, says council

New planning policy aimed at improving views of the stars and Northern Lights could boost the Highlands' night-time economy, a senior councillor has suggested.

Highland Council has proposed a dark skies draft planning policy to reduce the effects of light pollution from new developments across its region.

Vice convener and SNP councillor Ken Gowans said it would be the first policy of its kind in Scotland, and "opens the door" to night-time tourism.

But Ruraidh Stewart, a Scottish Conservative councillor for Skye, said street lighting was important to public safety, and he warned more planning rules could harm attempts to boost the availability of new homes.

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.

In their report, council officials said no Scottish local authority had introduced a new-style local development plan policy specifically on light pollution.

It said West Lothian Council had approved non-statutory planning guidance, and Dumfries and Galloway Council produced similar guidance in 2020. South-west Scotland is home to the UK's first Dark Sky Park - Galloway Forest Park.

Highland Council said tackling light pollution could bring other benefits such as a cut in energy use, better protection for nocturnal wildlife - and even help people get a better night's sleep.

They added any measures would have to be balanced against safety.

In 2024, the Isle of Rum, which is in the Highland Council area, was named Scotland's first International Dark Sky Sanctuary by the organisation DarkSky International.