People living in the west Highlands and islands are being asked which areas should be developed and which sites they want protected against development.
The local authority has launched an eight-week “call for sites and ideas” to help it produce the West Highland and Islands Local Development Plan.
Postcards have been sent to every home and businesses in Lochaber and the Small Isles, Skye and Lochalsh and Wester Ross asking for local people’s views.
Councillor Thomas Prag, who is chairman of Highland Council’s planning, development and infrastructure committee, is urging as many people as possible to take part.
In a plea to local people he said: “We want your ideas on the sites in your community that would be suitable for development and the areas that should be protected.
“We also want to know the top priorities for you, your community group or your business.”
Fort William and Ardnamurchan councillor Andrew Baxter said: “This plan will be used to make important decisions that could affect Lochaber for the next 20 years.
“One of the biggest issues we have is housing in rural areas so it would be particularly helpful if local residents could identify where they think housing would be acceptable.
“The Blar Mhor site is also an immediate issue for us, since Tesco admitted that it would not be building a superstore there, and I would like to see it developed as soon as possible.”
The plan will shape how communities will grow and develop in the future by earmarking land for new development, such as housing or business, as well as sites to be protected from building.
Ward forum presentations have already been held in Portree, Plockton, Poolewe and Ullapool, with a further presentation due to be given at the Lochaber Ward Forum meeting in the council chambers in Fort William on Monday February 9 at 6.30pm.
The council said this was the start of a long process which would take two to three years to complete.
The closing date for the consultation is Friday, March 27 and the findings will be used in a main issues report, which will be published later this year.