Local Plan
Introduction
The Cairngorms National Park Authority is currently developing a new Local Plan to cover the Cairngorms National Park area. The Local Plan will eventually replace the current local plans covering the four local authority areas within the Park: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland and Moray. It will set out detailed planning policies to guide development in the Park over the coming years and all planning applications within the Park will need to relate to the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan.
The Plan and its policies will play a key role in collectively delivering the four aims of the Cairngorms National Park. It will help protect the outstanding natural and cultural heritage of the Park from harmful development. It will support new development needed for the Park’s communities by identifying sufficient land in the right places. It aims to address the lack of housing, particularly affordable housing, and it will ensure that all new development is of the highest quality in terms of design and sustainability.
The Local Plan will deliver in the following three key areas:
- Conserving and Enhancing the Cairngorms National Park
- Living and Working in the Cairngorms National Park
- Enjoying and Understanding the Cairngorms National Park
Although separate to the Cairngorms National Park Plan which sets out the Park’s short and long-term future, the Local Plan will be one of the key tools in delivering the Cairngorms National Park Plan’s objectives for development and land use.
Update on Progress
Following extensive consultation, the Local Plan was modified and the changes published for public consultation during June and July 2008. We have now completed this period of consultation and the large number of responses received are being analysed. The responses covered almost all policies and settlements identified within the Local Plan, and these, along with an analysis of the issues raised, will be discussed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority board in September. A full set of the responses, the committee report and a guide to the next stages of the development of the Local Plan will be posted here in September 2008.
During this period we will continue to discuss with people the issues raised to try and resolve as many of these as possible, to help ensure that the adopted Local Plan enables development that meets the fours aims of the Park.
A number of documents are available which provide background information to the development of the Local Plan. These, including the Local Plan – First Modifications document, can be downloaded below:
- Strategic Environmental Assessment - Environmental Report
- Heriot Watt Housing System Analysis for the Cairngorms National Park
- Planning for Affordable Housing in the Cairngorms National Park
- Local Plan FAQs
- Local Plan – First Modifications (June 2008)
For further information, please contact:
Local Plan/Policy Officer
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Ground Floor
Albert Memorial Hall
Station Square
Ballater
Aberdeenshire
AB35 5QE
Tel: 013397 53601
Email: localplan@cairngorms.co.uk
