Publication - Strategy/plan

National Islands Plan: draft

Published: 5 December 2025
Directorate: Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate, +22 more … Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate, Children and Families Directorate, Culture and External Affairs Directorate, Digital Health and Care Directorate, Early Learning and Childcare Directorate, Economic Development Directorate, Energy and Climate Change Directorate, Environment and Forestry Directorate, Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate, Health and Social Care Finance Directorate, Health Workforce Directorate, Jobs and Wellbeing Economy Directorate, Learning Directorate, Local Government and Housing Directorate, Marine Directorate, Mental Health Directorate, Offshore Wind Directorate, Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Directorate, Population Health Directorate, Primary Care Directorate, Social Care and National Care Service Development, Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Topic: Arts, culture and sport, Children and families, Communities and third sector, +11 more … Economy, Education, Energy, Environment and climate change, Equality and rights, Farming and rural, Health and social care, Housing, Marine and fisheries, Transport, Work and skills
ISBN: 9781806434848

This publication has been superseded by the National Islands Plan published in February 2026.

Footnotes

1 See: ESC rights in the Highlands and Islands | SHRC Spotlight Projects. The Scottish Government set out its detailed response to this report and its recommendations in a letter to the Commission on 20 May 2025, in which this second National Islands Plan is noted as a key mechanism to advance rights realisation across Scotland’s islands.

2 Source: Briefing-population-growth-and-decline-in-orkney-updated-6-january-2025.pdf

3 Source: Pupil Census Supplementary Statistics 2024

4 Source: Subnational Population Projections: 2022-based – National Records of Scotland

5 Source: Vital Events Reference Tables 2024 – National Records of Scotland

6 See: Community wealth building – Cities and Regions

7 Source: Social Enterprise in Scotland – Census 2024. Available at: https://socialenterprise.scot/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/2024-report.pdf

8 Source: Community Ownership in Scotland 2024

9 Source: Scottish Islands Survey 2023: Main Findings Report

10 Source: Evaluation of Road Equivalent Tariff on the Clyde and Hebridean Network. Available at: Evaluation-of-road-equivalent-tariff-on-the-clyde-and-hebridean-network.pdf

11 Source: A Modern and Sustainable Ferry Service for Scotland

12 Source: Young Islanders Network – Transport Challenge report. Available at: Young-Islanders-Network-Transport-Report-2.pdf

13 Source: Scottish Islands Survey 2023: Main Findings Report

14 Source: Broadband Coverage and Speed Test Statistics for Scotland (data as of October 2025)

15 Source: Ofcom Infrastructure Report 2014. Data available at: Infrastructure report 2014 downloads - Ofcom

16 Colonsay, Iona, Lismore, Eigg, Eday, Flotta, Hoy, Rousay, Sanday, Shapinsay, Stronsay, Fair Isle, Unst, Whalsey and Yell.

17 See: Young Islanders Network – Housing Challenge Report 2024

18 See: ESC rights in the Highlands and Islands | SHRC Spotlight Projects

19 Source: Household and Dwelling Estimates 2024 – Scottish Islands Regions

20 Source: Property Market Report 2024-25 – Registers of Scotland

21 Source: Residential Property Sales in Scottish Island Regions - Registers of Scotland

22 Source: Household and Dwelling Estimates 2024 – Scottish Islands Regions

23 Source: SRUC – Rural and Islands Report 2023

24 Source: Household and Dwelling Estimates 2024 – Scottish Islands Regions

25 Source: Personal well-being in the UK – Office for National Statistics

26 Source: Healthy Life Expectancy 2021-2023 – National Records of Scotland

27 Source: Scottish National Islands Plan Survey (2020)

28 Source: Scottish Islands Data Overview (2025)

29 Source: Scottish Islands Survey (2023) Main Findings Report

30 See: Island Agriculture | Rural Exchange | SRUC

31 Source: SRUC – Rural and Islands Report 2023

32 Source: UK Small Area Gross Value Added (GVA) Estimates, Office for National Statistics (2024)

33 Source: Businesses in Scotland: 2024. A high growth business is defined as a business with 10+ employees in the base year (x-3) exhibiting an average of 20% growth over three years in terms of turnover.

34 Source: Scottish Islands Survey (2023) – Comparing Perceptions of Island Life in 2020 to 2023

35 Sources: *Sub-Scotland Economic Statistics Database **2022 census | Scotland's Census

36 Source: Economic condition of crofting: 2019 to 2022

37 Source: Scotland’s Marine Economic Statistics 2022

38 Source: Scotland's fisheries management strategy 2020 to 2030: delivery plan update 2025 - gov.scot

39 Source: Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2024

40 Source: Aquaculture - Scotland's Marine Economic Statistics 2022

41 Source: Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey 2024

42 Source: Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey 2024

43 Source: Orkney Islands Council – Cruise Ship Levy Consultation

44 Source: Lerwick Port Authority

45 Source: Scottish Crown Estate revenue allocations: 2024 to 2025

46 Source: Climate Change, Mental Health and Wellbeing – A Review of Emerging Evidence – ClimateXChange

47 Source: 30 x 30 Protected Areas | NatureScot Spatial Data Hub

48 Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority (LLTNPA), NatureScot (NS) and Scottish Water (SW)

49 For more detailed data, see: National Forest Inventory Scotland 2022 | Forestry Commission Open Data Website

50 Source: Circular Economy and Waste Route Map to 2030: Island Communities Screening Assessment

51 Source: Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland 2021-24

52 Source: Understanding the Changing Nature and Context of Poverty in Scottish Rural and Island Communities Since 2010

53 Source: Scottish Islands Survey 2023 – Cost of Living and Wellbeing Report

54 Source: Sub-National Estimates of Properties not Connected to the Gas Network – GOV.UK

55 Source: The Parcels Market in Scotland – Consumer Scotland

56 See: ESC Rights in the Highlands and Islands | SHRC Spotlight Projects

57 Source: Scottish Household Survey 2022: Key Findings