Planning Committee - August 2021

This document contains the draft minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee meeting held on 25 June 2021, via video conference. The meeting covered various planning applications and consultations, including detailed planning permission for housing in Cromdale, a caravan park near Dinnet Bridge, and an energy storage facility near Boat of Garten. Discussions included considerations for local residents, environmental impact, and compliance with planning regulations. The committee approved several applications subject to conditions, deferred one for a site visit, and approved a supplementary guidance for public consultation. The next meeting was scheduled for 27 August 2021.

This document contains the agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee meeting on 27 August 2021. The meeting, held virtually, included welcome and apologies, approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25 June 2021, and a declaration of interest. The committee then considered detailed planning permissions for erecting 16 huts and upgrading a vehicular access track, both recommended for approval subject to conditions. Additionally, the committee had a discussion on the Draft Design and Placemaking Guidance. Finally, the Local Development Plan 2015 Monitoring Report was for information.

This document contains information regarding a planning application submitted by Invercauld Estate to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) for the erection of 16 huts and four compost toilets with associated access, car parking, and landscaping. The proposed development is located on land north and northeast of Tomidhu Crathie, Ballater, Aberdeenshire, within the Crathie Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Ancient Woodland Inventory. While there were initial concerns from consultees, including NatureScot and the Park Authority's Ecology Advisor, regarding the potential impact on the SSSI and ancient woodland, the applicant amended the proposal to address these concerns. The Park Authority's recommendation is to approve the application with conditions, including the implementation of a detailed landscaping scheme, a pre-construction walk-over survey for protected species, a construction method statement, and a Hutting Management Plan to mitigate potential impacts and ensure responsible management of the site.

This document contains plans for an application to build huts on the Invercauld Estate within the Cairngorms National Park. The application, number 2020/0201/DET, includes details on sixteen different hut sites, showing the location of the huts, access paths, parking, tree removal, and the primary view from each hut. It also includes elevations, roof plans, floor plans, cross sections, and long sections for different hut types (1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B) proposed for the Crathie Huts project. The plans detail the hut layouts, materials, and how they will fit into the surrounding environment, while minimising impact on tree root protection areas.

This document contains comments from the Ballater and Crathie Community Council (BCCC) regarding planning application 2020/0201/DET for the erection of 18 huts, 4 compost toilets, associated access, car parking and landscaping. The BCCC says that they support developments of this type in principle, but not in this specific location for two main reasons. The first reason is road safety concerns due to increased traffic on the A93 without a reduced speed limit or adequate pedestrian access. The second reason is the location's proximity to a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), raising concerns about potential damage from firewood collection, wildfires, litter, and human waste. The BCCC also expressed concerns about overdevelopment, the removal of existing caravans, and a lack of public consultation, suggesting the applicant revisits the plans after engaging with the community.

This document contains a letter from Butterfly Conservation Scotland to the Cairngorms National Park Authority regarding concerns about a proposed development at Tomidhu, Crathie, Ballater, Aberdeenshire. The development site is near the Crathie Wood Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is within Butterfly Conservation Scotland's Deeside Priority Landscape. The letter highlights the presence of rare and threatened moths (Lepidoptera), including the Dark Bordered Beauty and Northern Brown Argus. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity for these species and suggests ways to minimize the development's impact and enhance their habitats, stating that they are willing to work with the landowner to achieve this.

This document contains representations and objections to a planning application (reference number 2020/0201/DET) submitted to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) for the erection of 18 huts, compost toilets, associated access, car parking, and landscaping near Tomidhu, Crathie, and Ballater. The objections raised by local residents, RSPB Scotland and other interested parties include concerns about the impact on the natural environment and the Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), increased traffic and disturbance, lack of consultation with the local community, privacy concerns, and the suitability of the site for the proposed development. Issues such as waste management, potential for increased noise and pollution, and the safety of the access road are also highlighted.

This document contains information regarding a planning application submitted to the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) for the formation, maintenance, and upgrading of a vehicular access track at Glen Clova Estate. The application, referenced as 2021/0172/DET, was called in on 31 May 2021 and the case officer is Ed Swales. The Park Authority's recommendation is to approve the application, subject to compliance with relevant local plan policies and mitigation measures to minimize environmental impacts. A Habitats Regulations Appraisal has been undertaken to consider the effects of the proposal and it was concluded that the conservation objectives will be met and there will not be an adverse effect on site integrity.

This document contains plans for agenda item 6, appendix 1, related to application 2021/0172/DET for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee meeting on 27 August 2021. The plans, prepared by Tilhill Forestry, detail proposed forestry track construction and drainage repairs at Glen Clova Estate - Caddam Wood, including retro-fitting culverts. The documents include location maps, site plans, and diagrams illustrating the drainage repairs and culvert installation techniques.

This document contains a Habitats Regulations Appraisal for a planning application regarding the retrospective permission for a 600m track for forestry purposes at Glen Clova Estate. The appraisal, dated 3 August 2021, considers the potential impact of the track on the Cairngorms Massif Special Protection Area (SPA) and the River South Esk Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The appraisal concludes that while there is a likely significant effect on golden eagles due to the track's location within the SPA, all conservation objectives for the Cairngorms Massif SPA will be met and there will be no adverse effect on site integrity. It also finds that there is no likely significant effect on the River South Esk SAC due to the distance and intervening vegetation and infrastructure between the track and the watercourse connected to the SAC.

This document contains a recommendation for the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Planning Committee to approve the Draft Design and Placemaking Non-Statutory Guidance for consultation. This guidance is intended to support the Local Development Plan (LDP) of 2021 and will replace the 2015 Sustainable Design Non-statutory Guidance. The new guidance incorporates changes to Policy 3, aligning it with Scottish Planning Policy by requiring developments to meet six qualities of successful places. Following a six-week public consultation, comments will be used to inform the final non-statutory guidance, which will then be reported back to the Planning Committee for adoption and will be a material consideration for future planning applications.

This document contains non-statutory guidance for Policy 3, Design and Placemaking, within the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan 2021. It gives guidance for anyone involved in the planning process, and it stresses the importance of good design for new developments that consider both landscape and local needs. It explains how to use this guidance and refers to other important documents. The document provides advice on everything from community engagement and site appraisal to sustainable design and integrating development. Ultimately, the guidance aims to help create successful places that are distinctive, safe, welcoming, adaptable, resource efficient and easy to move around and beyond. It emphasises the importance of early engagement with planners to avoid problems and ensure that new buildings complement their surroundings and contribute positively to the Cairngorms National Park.

This document contains the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Local Development Plan 2015 final monitoring report. The report gives an overview of how the 2015 Local Development Plan (LDP) was used by the National Park Authority and local councils from 2015 to 2021 when deciding on planning applications and appeals. Over 2000 planning applications were decided in the National Park during the 2015 LDP, with an average approval rate of around 91%. The most frequently used policy was Policy 3: Sustainable Design. This is the final monitoring report for the 2015 LDP, but policy use will continue to be monitored annually for the 2021 LDP.

This document contains a monitoring report on the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan (LDP) from 2015/2016 to 2019/2020. The LDP is used by the National Park Authority and local authorities to guide development and land use. Over the five-year monitoring period, almost 1,900 planning applications were submitted, with around 95% being approved. The main policy used in planning decisions was Policy 3, which focuses on sustainable design. The report also provides information on appeals made against planning decisions and notes that more information can be found in the Plan's Action Programme regarding the status of allocated sites.