The leader of Highland Council has admitted that over-provision of holiday lets has made it "impossible" for young people to get onto the property ladder in some parts of the region.

Councillor Margaret Davidson said a pilot project to control the number of buy-to-let homes in the Badenoch and Strathspey areas, that includes Cairngorm National Park, had been requested by businesses who were having increasing difficulties retaining staff because of housing shortages.

She said it would be prudent to await the findings of the test scheme before extending it elsewhere in the region.

She was responding to calls by the SNP's Westminister leader Ian Blackford for the scheme to be extended to his constituency area of Ross, Skye and Lochaber.

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce members have expressed concern about the lack of available housing for employees.

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Mr Blackford said the problem was contributing to young people leaving the area and said that while tourism played an important part in the Highland economy, it had to be "sustainable and managed".

Ms Davidson said: "Ian is keen that we use the legislation for short term lets control.

"Highland already has a pilot assessment underway in Badenoch and Strathspey that includes the Cairngorm National Park.

"This was because it was asked for by the businesses , who have increasing difficulties housing their staff and hence attracting and retaining staff.

"Plus we have an area where it is almost impossible for young people to get on the housing ladder. Housing that comes onto the market is snapped up often 25% above the asking price.

READ MORE: Scottish Government makes 'pragmatic' changes to short-term lets legislation 

"I am hearing that we should extend this to wester Ross, Skye and Lochalsh and Lochaber.  That decision lies with the Local committees.

"They are close to their communities and know if we should consider it.  However I believe it would be wise to wait for the results from Badenoch and Strathspey and consider the solutions."

The council leader admitted that planning processes for new housing in the Highlands are "overly complex and regulated".

She said: "We need to shift some of the road blocks.

"We are willing to work closely with government on a rural action plan for Highland.

"That will need to consider depopulation issues, land availability, often an issue in Highland; material costs, that have skyrocketed and availability of tradesmen and builders.

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"As a council we need to look to ourselves around delays in planning and building standards and we would dearly love to have faster acting compulsory purchase powers,

"A huge issue with local communities is allocations and ensuring that local people are prioritised.

"Not simple, but we need to role up our sleeves and get on with it.  We have an excellent working relationship with Scottish Government and we now need to use it to help us deliver for Highland."

Housing Secretary Shona Robison last month announced a number of “pragmatic and significant” changes to the planned licensing scheme for short-term rental properties.

As part of that, regulations designed to prevent an “overprovision” of Airbnb-style properties are to be ditched from the scheme.

Ms Robison insisted these were not needed as powers being given to local council areas to establish control areas could be used to prevent too many short-term lets from being set up in any given location.