Our 22nd annual rural housing conference will take place at Birnam Arts Centre on the 24th February 2023. This will be our first in-person conference since the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020 and we are delighted to be back! We are pleased to also be back at Dunkeld House Hotel for the Conference Dinner where we have a great dinner, bed and breakfast package for delegates wishing to stay on the evening of Thursday 23rd February.

Tickets will be released on Friday 4th November, with members benefitting from a discounted ticket price. If you would like to become a member, you can do so here.

We are delighted that Ecology Building Society and Highlands Rewilding will once again be our lead sponsors.

About the conference

This conference will look at how we can secure the sustainability and health of our rural communities.

Daytime TV is filled with the promise of A Simple Life, an Escape to the Country or a New Life in the Wild, a popular internet meme is #cottagecore – an idealisation of a pastoral life and escape from the dangers of the modern world. These trends have been exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic, and the post pandemic changes in working practice which allow more people to work remotely.

But, what do we need to do to ensure that rural communities benefit from the growth in remote working, how can we enable young people to remain and return to rural communities, and prevent depopulation and enable repopulation, without precipitating the gentrification and geriatrification of our rural communities.

Our programme will examine a range of ideas which seek to address these issues including; Rural Housing Scotland initiatives Smart Clachan and Radical Rural Housing; learning from the approach of our neighbours in Ireland to Rural Development; securing a Just Transition for rural homes; how rural communities can benefit from the energy generated in their communities and how rewilding and repeopling can go hand in hand.

Keynote speakers will include: Shona Robison MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Housing (tbc), Tavish Scott (Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation), Jake Ryan (Department of Rural and Community Development, Irish Government), and Morven Fancey (Head of Universities, Skills & Population, Highlands and Islands Enterprise).

The full programme will be released over the coming weeks.

Ticket options

Members have been emailed a code to access discounted ticket options. If you are an RHS member and have not received this, please contact kirsty@ruralhousingscotland.org

Residential delegates will stay at the Dunkeld House Hotel and can attend our popular conference dinner on Thursday 23rd February. The dinner will take place at the hotel and will be attended by a range of delegates and speakers, many of whom have travelled from the islands and remote communities.

Day delegates can register from 9.00am on the 24th February at Birnam Arts and Conference Centre with the first session starting at 9.30am. Lunch will be provided.

Ticket Cost

Residential (member) - £220
Residential (non-member) - £ 260

Day Delegate (member) - £100
Day delegate (non-member) - £140

You will receive an information sheet with important details prior to the event. Please read this carefully and contact kirsty@ruralhousingscotland.org if you have any queries.