A POWERFUL cross-party group of politicians descended on Perthshire yesterday for talks aimed at solving Scotland’s rural housing crisis.

Members of the Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs and environment committee carried out a number of fact-finding visits in the region.

Led by committee convener Roseanna Cunningham (pictured), they visited sites in Kinloch Rannoch, Ballinluig and Blair Atholl.

The issue of rural affordable housing was top of the agenda, as the Perth parliamentarian pointed out.

“We are currently gathering information for an inquiry into rural housing,” she said.

“Committee members are keen to learn first hand about some of the housing issues that people face in rural areas.

“They also want to find out about successful local initiatives by looking at examples in different parts of Scotland.”

Ms Cunningham said the Perthshire visits had been particularly illuminating.

“The day provided an excellent opportunity for committee members to gain a clearer picture of the complex factors affecting rural housing in Highland Perthshire—such as remoteness, land ownership and local authority services,” the MSP continued.

“I was particularly keen to see the situation in Kinloch Rannoch, a relatively remote community where second homes are an issue, and to learn more about some of the recent developments that have taken place on the Atholl Estate.

“The visits will help us to build up a picture of the range of rural housing issues that arise in different parts of Scotland.

“This will be an important part of the information-gathering exercise we are undertaking over the coming weeks and months,” Ms Cunningham added.

The SNP politician was joined in rural Perthshire by fellow committee members, Jamie Hepburn (SNP), Peter Peacock (Labour) and John Scott (Conservative).

Key themes being investigated by the group include the role of the planning system, the availability of land suitable for house-building, infrastructure issues, funding considerations, mechanisms to keep housing affordable and the environmental sustainability of rural housing.

In Kinloch Rannoch the impact of holiday homes on the availability of affordable homes was put under the microscope.

Committee members met local community councillor Willie Miller before moving on to Blair Atholl.

A number of issues were discussed over lunch before the group travelled to Ballinluig and a site being developed by Perthshire Housing Association.

Further fact-finding visits are set to be held later this month at locations in East Lothian and Arran.