Housing, tourism and population retention

Contested rural environments: housing tourism and population retention

Rural Scotland covers 94% of the land but faces significant challenges, such as housing shortages, poor healthcare access, and tensions over land use. These issues impact both rural communities and the environment.

This RSE in-conversation livestream series brings together experts to explore these issues, uncover their roots, and discuss solutions for a more sustainable future.

In this discussion chaired by RSE Chief Executive Professor Sarah Skerratt, Professors Sandro Carnicelli and Donna Heddle FRSE explore issues relating to the opposing demands on housing, tourism, and population retention in rural areas.

For each of the topics, the conversation will range over the sources and history of the conflicts, the current-day issues which are at the fore, and some potential solutions. This builds on the recent ‘Islands: past, present and future’ events, which highlighted some of the themes we are taking forward through discussion.