The board of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has agreed the modifications to its first Local Plan, at the organisation’s board meeting in Grantown-on-Spey today (Friday 14 May). Subject to a further consultation, it should be adopted and ready for use by the end of this year.
CNPA board member and planning committee convener Duncan Bryden said: “This is a significant day for the Park, and for Scotland, with this being the first Local Plan for a Scottish National Park to get to this stage. While it won’t be adopted until December this year or early next year, this is quite a milestone”
The Cairngorms National Park Authority Local Plan will replace the four Local Authority plans (Highland, Aberdeenshire, Moray and Angus) currently covering the Park and has been in the making since September 2004. It was the subject of a Local Plan Inquiry in May 2009, with the Scottish Government Reporter’s recommendations received by the CNPA in December the same year.
Since then, CNPA planning staff have assessed the Reporter’s recommendations and today the board agreed which changes and recommendations to take forward.
There now begins a consultation period (24 May to 2 July) to allow individuals, groups or organisations to make representations on the post inquiry modifications to the Local Plan and the Supplementary Planning Guidance. This consultation will last for six weeks and responses will be considered during July and August.
If there is no requirement to hold a second inquiry the CNPA board will be asked in September to allow the Local Plan to proceed to the final stages which will involve informing Scottish Ministers of the Intention to Adopt the Local Plan. This will happen between September and November, with the Plan hopefully being adopted and published for use by the CNPA and the four local authorities covering the Park, between December 2010 and January 2011.
To access this board paper in full please go to Board Meeting 14 May.