NPPP4 - Supporting Documents - September 2021
23 September 2021
This document contains information about climate change trends and their effects on the Cairngorms National Park. Data from Braemar and Aviemore weather stations shows rising temperatures since 1980 and increased winter rainfall. SEPA monitors water levels, which indicate a general trend for higher annual maximums in the River Spey and River Dee. Flooding remains a risk in several settlements within the National Park. The trend in CO2 equivalent emissions in the Park is declining overall since 2001, although this isn't the same across all sectors. Road transport corridors and settlements are the most significant sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Methane emissions from the Granish landfill site have reduced significantly and then plateaued. The UK Climate Projections (UKCP18) website provides projections for different emission scenarios. The Cairngorms National Park industry greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared with the UK national average are higher. The Park Authority has implemented relatively restrictive policies on large scale renewable energy development.
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This document contains a factsheet about nature conservation efforts in the Cairngorms National Park, which is a vital area for nature and wildlife, holding 2% of the UK's landmass and 25% of its rare species. It details that over half of the National Park is protected for nature conservation with 55 nationally and 42 internationally important areas. The document also reports on progress with the Cairngorms Nature Action Plan (CNAP) from 2019 to 2024, including habitat and species targets, landscape scale conservation, and public engagement, and mentions how the pandemic has affected this. It also highlights challenges to biodiversity, such as diseases affecting trees and notes advancements made with Data Collection.
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This document contains a factsheet about the landscape and cultural heritage of the Cairngorms National Park, which covers 6% of Scotland's land area and is one of the largest protected landscapes in the UK. The park's special qualities include magnificent mountains, vast spaces, contrasting landscapes, and a harmony of natural and cultural elements. The landscape features mountains, plateaux, forests, moorlands, glens, and straths, supporting diverse wildlife. It also has visual and sensory qualities like dark skies and natural sounds, as well as a rich cultural history with planned towns, vernacular buildings, and historical landmarks. Two National Scenic Areas are within the park, and a significant portion is identified as wild land. The area's historic landscape is shaped by climate, geology, and human activities, with numerous recorded historical sites. Conservation efforts focus on protecting designated areas and buildings at risk, and the area's linguistic heritage is reflected in place names and the presence of Gaelic and Scots speakers.
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This document contains a factsheet about land management within the Cairngorms National Park. It covers various aspects of the park's natural resources, including woodlands, soil, peatland, deer populations, grouse moorland, freshwater habitats, and geodiversity. It highlights the importance of native woodlands, forest cover estimates, the significance of carbon-rich soils, and the management of deer populations through culling. The document also touches on land capability for agriculture, the ecological status of waterbodies, and the presence of geological sites and mineral resources within the park, along with how muirburn is used as a land management tool. The information aims to provide an overview of the park's diverse ecosystems and the strategies in place for their sustainable management.
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This document contains a factsheet about population and housing in the Cairngorms National Park. The population is projected to increase by around 5% between 2018 and 2043, with the number of people over 65 increasing by a greater percentage than in Scotland as a whole. The population increase is mainly due to people migrating into the National Park. The population age profile differs from the national profile with a larger proportion of people aged over 70. Housing prices in the National Park have increased significantly since 1993, and by 2018 the median house price was £37,500 higher than the Scottish average. This makes it difficult for people working in the National Park to afford to buy a home there. Also, over 15% of the housing stock is ineffective as they are either second homes or vacant.
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This document contains a factsheet about the economy of the Cairngorms National Park in 2022. The National Park's economy was significantly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, with the economy shrinking by 14.8% in 2020. The accommodation and food services sector was most affected. However, the outlook is positive, with the Park expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2022. In 2020, 8,100 people were employed in the National Park with most jobs being full-time. A major barrier to staff recruitment is the shortage of affordable housing. Unemployment levels within the National Park are relatively low, but there is a variation between the Local Authority areas. It is forecast that there will be a requirement of 1,800 people to fill job openings between 2023 and 2030.
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This document contains information about transport and access to the Cairngorms National Park. The Park has good transport links due to a mainline railway and A-class roads, though some areas are harder to reach because of the landscape. More people are working from home since 2001, and many still use cars for commuting. The population often have to travel long distances to reach essential services in the Park. There is concern of air quality due to the dualling of the A9. The Cairngorms National Park also offers many recreational activities such as cycling and walking on trails like the Dava Way, the Speyside Way, the Cateran Trail and the Deeside Way, and water sports at Loch Insh and Loch Morlich.
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This document contains a factsheet on digital infrastructure in Cairngorms National Park. It highlights that good digital connectivity is essential for residents, businesses, and visitors, but providing it remains a challenge. While there are 28 telephone exchanges providing asymmetric digital subscriber line (ADSL) broadband, the National Park lags behind the national average in terms of superfast broadband availability, particularly in rural areas like Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie and Ballater. Furthermore, 4G "not spots" remain a problem, despite improvements in recent years, with some areas having no 4G coverage from the four main carriers. The Scottish Governments R100 Program aims to improve this.
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This document contains a Strategic Environmental Assessment, which is a draft environmental report from September 2021, including a Habitats Regulations Appraisal, for the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022. The Cairngorms National Park Authority is the responsible authority. The Environmental Report assesses the potential environmental effects of the next National Park Partnership Plan (NPPP) for the Cairngorms National Park and identifies measures to meet the legislative aims for National Parks, such as conserving natural heritage, promoting sustainable resource use, promoting understanding and enjoyment of the area, and fostering sustainable economic development. The NPPP addresses issues like climate change impacts, land management practices, and housing needs. Monitoring will occur annually and if unexpected effects occur, actions will be taken to remedy them as appropriate to the effect and its cause.
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