Thurso Regeneration Project – Five Key Aims

The overall vision is to create a thriving, attractive and connected Thurso that is a great place to live, work, visit and invest in. The project will bring together the regeneration of Thurso Harbour, the River Thurso and the town centre, recognising that these areas should work together rather than being developed separately.

The project will focus not only on improving how Thurso looks, but on creating long-term social and economic benefits: stronger local businesses, more employment opportunities, improved community spaces, increased tourism, better access to the natural environment and a town centre that local people are proud of.

1. Make Thurso a better place to live

Improve the quality of life for people who live in Thurso by creating attractive, safe, welcoming and accessible public spaces. This could include better paths, seating, lighting, planting, green spaces, play and recreation opportunities, improved accessibility and areas where people can meet and spend time.

The regeneration should make better use of the assets Thurso already has, particularly the river, coastline, harbour and town centre. It should encourage walking, cycling, outdoor activity and community events while ensuring that improvements are accessible to children, families, older people and people with additional support or mobility needs.

The aim is to create a town where people feel proud to live and where younger generations can see a positive future for themselves.

2. Make Thurso a stronger place to work and do business

Support a stronger local economy by increasing activity and footfall within the town centre and creating opportunities for existing and new businesses.

This could include bringing vacant and underused buildings back into use, encouraging new shops and services, creating flexible spaces for small businesses and start-ups, supporting markets and events, and improving the overall appearance of the High Street.

The project should also explore opportunities linked to the harbour, tourism, food and drink, outdoor recreation, creative industries, renewable energy and the wider Caithness economy.

By creating a more vibrant town, Thurso can become a place where businesses want to establish themselves, employers can attract and retain staff, and local people have greater opportunities to work and develop careers without having to leave the area.

3. Make Thurso a destination people want to visit

Develop Thurso's identity as a distinctive northern coastal town and encourage visitors to spend more time in the area.

The harbour, beach, river, town centre, heritage and surrounding landscape provide an opportunity to create a much stronger visitor experience. Improved signage, walking routes, interpretation, public art, viewpoints and visitor information could help people discover more of Thurso.

The project could develop a clear route connecting the harbour, river and town centre, encouraging visitors arriving in Thurso to explore local shops, cafés, attractions and businesses.

Events, markets, festivals, outdoor activities, surfing, wildlife, heritage and cultural experiences could all form part of a wider programme to increase visitor numbers and encourage people to stay longer and spend locally.

4. Regenerate and connect the harbour, river and town centre

Create a joined-up approach so that Thurso Harbour, the River Thurso and the town centre become part of one attractive and easily accessible destination.

The harbour could become a more active waterfront area with improved public spaces, seating, lighting, signage and opportunities for recreation, tourism and small businesses.

The River Thurso could form a green corridor through the town, with improved paths, biodiversity, planting, interpretation and recreational opportunities.

These areas would then connect directly with the town centre through attractive walking and cycling routes, signage, heritage trails and public-realm improvements.

Rather than viewing the harbour, river and High Street as three separate regeneration projects, the ambition would be to create one connected Thurso experience.

5. Build a sustainable future for Thurso

Ensure regeneration delivers lasting economic, environmental and social benefits and is shaped by the people who live and work in Thurso.

Local residents, young people, community organisations, businesses, landowners and public-sector partners should have opportunities to influence how the town develops.

The project should protect and enhance Thurso's natural environment, improve biodiversity, encourage sustainable travel and ensure future developments respect the character and heritage of the town.

Importantly, regeneration should create opportunities for local employment, volunteering, training and community involvement.

Long-term vision

The ambition is for Thurso to become a town where people choose to stay, young people can see opportunities for their future, businesses have confidence to invest, employers can attract workers and visitors have reasons to stay for longer.

Regenerating the harbour, river and town centre provides an opportunity to create a stronger identity for Thurso and make much more of its unique location.

The project could ultimately develop into a Thurso Regeneration Masterplan and Investment Plan, identifying short-, medium- and long-term projects. This would allow achievable improvements to begin quickly while building towards larger regeneration projects and attracting investment from public, private and community funding sources.

The central ambition would be simple:

To make Thurso one of the best small towns in the Highlands to live, work, visit and invest in.