Initial Appraisal: Case for Change Highlands and Islands Region

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Initial Appraisal: Case for Change Highlands and Islands Region Initial Appraisal: Case for Change Highlands and Islands Region February 2021 STPR2: Initial Appraisal: Case for Change – Highlands and Islands Region PROJECT NAME Project No: B2356701 Document Title: STPR2: Initial Appraisal: Case for Change – Highlands and Islands Region Revision: Final Date: 03/02/2021 Jacobs UK Ltd. 95 Bothwell Street Glasgow, Scotland G2 7HX United Kingdom T +44.(0)141 243 8000 F +44 (0)141 226 3109 www.jacobs.com © Copyright 2021 Jacobs UK Ltd and AECOM Limited. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Jacobs and AECOM. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Jacobs and AECOM constitutes an infringement of copyright. Limitation: This document has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of Jacobs’ and AECOM client, and is subject to, and issued in accordance with, the provisions of the contract between Jacobs, AECOM and the client. Jacobs and AECOM accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this document by any third party. Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) Consultancy Support Services Contract STPR2: Initial Appraisal: Case for Change – Highlands and Islands Region Contents 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background and Report Purpose ......................................................................... 1 1.2. COVID-19 Impacts ............................................................................................... 3 2. Context ..................................................................................................................... 4 2.1. Policy Context ...................................................................................................... 4 2.2. Geographical Context .......................................................................................... 7 2.3. Socio Economic Context ...................................................................................... 8 2.4. Environmental Context ....................................................................................... 30 2.5. Transport Context .............................................................................................. 36 2.6. Context Summary .............................................................................................. 48 3. Problems & Opportunities ..................................................................................... 49 3.1. Approach to Problem & Opportunity Identification .............................................. 49 3.2. Problems & Opportunities .................................................................................. 50 3.3. Problems & Opportunities Summary .................................................................. 72 4. Transport Planning Objectives ............................................................................. 74 4.1. National and Regional Objectives ...................................................................... 74 5. Option Generation and Sifting .............................................................................. 78 5.1. Strategic Options ............................................................................................... 78 5.2. Approach ........................................................................................................... 78 5.3. Next Steps ......................................................................................................... 96 Appendices Appendix A: Figures Appendix B: List of Policy Documents Appendix C: Stakeholder Engagement Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) i STPR2: Initial Appraisal: Case for Change – Highlands and Islands Region Figures Figure 1: The Four Key Phases to the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) ...... 1 Figure 2: Highlands and Islands Study Area ....................................................................... 2 Figure 3: Policy Review ...................................................................................................... 6 Figure 4: Urban-Rural 2016 Scottish Government 6-Fold Classification ............................. 7 Figure 5: Highlands and Islands Largest Settlements by Populations 2016, 2019 Population and Population Density ..................................................................................... 9 Figure 6: Top 10 Settlements Population Change ............................................................ 10 Figure 7: Population Age Structure Comparison – 2011 to 2019 ...................................... 11 Figure 8: Travel to Work Mode Share28 ........................................................................... 13 Figure 9: Car Availability ................................................................................................... 14 Figure 10: Distance Travelled to Work .............................................................................. 15 Figure 11: Index of GVA, Highland Council and Scotland, 2008-2018 .............................. 16 Figure 12: Sector GVA Share Highland Council vs Scotland 2018 ................................... 17 Figure 13: Index of GVA, Islands and Scotland, 2008-2018 ............................................. 18 Figure 14: Sector GVA Share Islands vs Scotland 2018 ................................................... 19 Figure 15: Index of GVA, Moray and Scotland, 2008-2018 ............................................... 20 Figure 16: Sector GVA Share Moray and Scotland, 2008-2018 ........................................ 20 Figure 17: Percentage of People Working in Each Industry Sector for Highlands and Islands Region.................................................................................................................. 22 Figure 18: Transport Expenditure (%) relative to Household Budgets............................... 23 Figure 19: Access to Key Employment Centres by Public Transport ................................ 25 Figure 20: Access to Employment Centres by Public Transport in Central Highland and Moray ............................................................................................................................... 26 Figure 21: Highland and Islands Region – Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation ............. 27 Figure 22: Elgin Overall SIMD42 ........................................................................................ 28 Figure 23: Inverness Overall SIMD42 ................................................................................ 28 Figure 24: Proportion of Population with a Long Term Physical or Mental Health Condition for the Highlands and Islands Region ............................................................................... 29 Figure 25: Environmental Designations for Highlands and Islands Region ....................... 31 Figure 26: Noise Mapping for Highlands and Islands region ............................................. 32 Figure 27: Noise Mapping around Inverness .................................................................... 33 Figure 28: Flood Mapping for Highlands and Islands Region ............................................ 34 Figure 29: Carbon and Peatland Map for Highlands and Islands region ........................... 35 Figure 30: Highlands and Islands Transport Network ....................................................... 37 Figure 31: HIAL Airport Network within Highlands & Islands ............................................. 42 Figure 32: Internal Orkney Air Network61 ......................................................................... 44 Figure 33: Internal Western Isles Air Network61 ............................................................... 46 Figure 34: Annual Passenger Number Change at Highlands and Islands Airports since 2012 ................................................................................................................................. 47 Figure 35: Highlands and Islands Airports - Passenger percentage change 2012-2019 ... 47 Figure 36: Stakeholder Engagement ................................................................................ 50 Figure 37: Highlands and Islands Region SIMD - Access Deprivation .............................. 51 Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR2) ii STPR2: Initial Appraisal: Case for Change – Highlands and Islands Region Figure 38: Transport Expenditure (%) relative to Household Budgets for the Highlands and Islands Region.................................................................................................................. 54 Figure 39: Transport poverty in the Highlands and Islands Region ................................... 55 Figure 40: Passenger and Car numbers of Ullapool to Stornoway Route by year ............. 58 Figure 41: Far North Line (FNL) Journey Times to Inverness ........................................... 60 Figure 42: Percentage of Households with no car/van available in the Highlands and Islands .............................................................................................................................. 65 Figure 43: Average Distance to Charging Points within the Highlands and Islands Region ......................................................................................................................................... 70 Figure 44: Broadband Connectivity (Highlands and Islands Local Authorities vs All Local Authorities)
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