Planning Committee - November 2025

This document contains the agenda for the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee meeting on 14 November 2025 at 11am in Grantown-on-Spey. The agenda includes welcoming attendees, approving minutes from previous meetings, discussing arising matters, and declarations of interest. The committee will also discuss applications for detailed planning permission, including the realignment of 400 metres of the River Tromie and upgrades to forestry tracks. Additionally, the agenda covers approving confidential minutes from a meeting on 29 August 2025, a planning enforcement update, and setting the date for the next meeting on 12 December 2025.

This document contains the draft minutes from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee meeting held on 29 August 2025. During the meeting, the committee addressed several planning applications, including one for terraced houses and flats in Aviemore, which was approved with conditions, and another for houses on Farm Road, also approved with conditions. A decision on the realignment of the River Tromie was deferred for a site visit. The committee also discussed and approved an upgrade to a forestry track, subject to conditions and a letter expressing disappointment about the retrospective nature of the application, while lodging objections to the Balnespick and Clune Windfarm applications. In addition, the committee reviewed and agreed to revise the Planning Committee Standing Orders, making site visit attendance mandatory, and received updates on the House of Bruar and Laurel Bank planning applications.

This document contains an addendum committee report for a planning application regarding the realignment of 400m of the River Tromie in Kingussie. The application was deferred at a previous meeting for a site visit. The report updates on planning and procedural matters, addressing a late representation received regarding land ownership and flood risk. The Highland Council Flood Risk Management team had no additional comments. Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) maintains its position of no objection, having reviewed flood modelling data. The applicant also provided a project summary. The recommendation is to approve the application subject to conditions.

This document contains a committee report about a proposal to realign 400 metres of the River Tromie near Kingussie, which is part of the Cairngorms Connect Floodplains and River Restoration programme. RSPB Scotland is the applicant and the recommendation is to approve the development, subject to certain conditions. The plan aims to create a more meandering riverbed to encourage diverse habitats and improve water flow, whilst reducing flood risk. The proposal has been assessed against various planning policies and has been consulted on with stakeholders like NatureScot and the local community and the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) Ecology Officer has considered the impacts on protected species, trees, habitats and species, and nationally protected areas, concluding that any impacts can be mitigated by suitable planning conditions.

This document contains plans for agenda item 5, appendix 1, reference number 2025/0104/DET, dated 14 November 2025. The plans relate to the Insh Marshes River Tromie realignment and include maps showing access points, planning boundaries, access routes, and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserves. There are also detailed site maps with labels indicating sediment sources, spoil deposition areas, and other features. The final page includes cross-sections and long sections of the river channel, detailing the point bar, pool, and riffle features, with measurements and scales provided.

This document contains a habitats regulations appraisal for the proposed realignment of 400m of the River Tromie, which is part of the Cairngorms Connect Floodplains and River Restoration programme. The project aims to reconnect the river with its floodplain, improve habitat diversity, and contribute to natural flood risk management. The appraisal assesses the potential impacts of the project on various European sites, including the River Spey Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Insh Marshes SAC, and River Spey - Insh Marshes Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar site, considering the qualifying interests (like Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussel, otters, and various bird species) and conservation objectives of each site. Mitigation measures, such as timing the works to avoid sensitive periods and implementing pollution prevention measures, are proposed to minimize potential adverse effects, and monitoring will be carried out post-construction to ensure the project's objectives are met.

This document contains a summary of the River Tromie Realignment project within the Insh Marshes National Nature Reserve, which is part of Cairngorms Connect. The project aims to reconnect the river with its floodplain, reducing the risk of the river breaking through agricultural land and threatening nearby properties. The current situation involves river embankments that limit the natural flow and deposit sediment, causing flooding and impacting agricultural land. The proposed solution is to create a new channel that encourages natural water flow and sediment deposition, helping to reduce flooding, improve habitats, and maintain fish passage to the River Spey. Other options like dredging were considered but were found to have negative impacts. Overall, the project seeks to create a more sustainable and diverse river system without increasing local flood risk.

This document contains a committee report from the Cairngorms National Park Authority (Park Authority) dated 14 November 2025, regarding a planning application for retrospective approval to upgrade a forestry track at Land Near Loch Beum A’Chlaidheimh, Carr-Bridge, submitted by Muckrach Estate. The recommendation is to approve the application subject to conditions, including a verge treatment and maintenance plan with native planting and re-seeding details, and avoidance of works during the bird breeding season. The Park Authority's advisors have no objections as it is in line with policies to support woodland expansion and improve habitat connectivity, with measures to minimize visual impact and enhance biodiversity.

This document contains plans related to agenda item 6, specifically Appendix 1, and is referenced as 2025/0090/DET. It includes a location plan of the Cairngorms National Park, a site plan and details for the Auchtertipper Forestry Track, a drawing title of site photographs, and a map detailing Muckrach woodland creation options and operations. These plans, prepared by Savills for Muckrach Estate, cover aspects such as the proposed forestry track's location, construction method, and materials, as well as various woodland management and planting options.

This document contains community council comments on planning application 2025/0090/DET, which concerns the upgrade of a track for forestry near Loch Beum A'Chlaidheimh Carrbridge. The Carrbridge Community Council considered the application at their meeting and stated that they neither object to nor support the application. They had no specific comment to make, but expressed general support for applications being made before work commences.

This document contains a committee report from the Cairngorms National Park Authority planning committee on 14 November 2025, regarding a retrospective application to upgrade a forestry track at Land 940M NE of Aucherteang, Carrbridge, on the Muckrach Estate. The report recommends approving the application subject to conditions, including submitting a verge treatment and maintenance plan, avoiding work during the bird breeding season unless supervised by an ecologist, and ensuring any necessary re-seeding uses a specific wildflower mix. The application relates to a 250 metre section of existing track that has already been upgraded to approximately 3.5 metres wide to support a woodland planting project, but additional channel drains are to be installed and the pedestrian gate relocated. The Highland Council has requested adequate replacement tree planting.

This document contains plans for agenda item 7, appendix 1, with the reference number 2025/0091/DET. The plans include a location plan of Duthil, a site plan detailing the location of a gate, a proposed channel drain, and a new 3.5m forestry track. There is also an aerial capture, diagrams of track formations and the method of track construction. The document also includes site photographs and a map of Muckrach Woodland Creation options and operations, dated 9 December 2022.

This document contains community council comments regarding planning application 2025/0091/DET for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, dated 14 November 2025. The application concerns the upgrade of a forestry track at Auchterteang Carrbridge. The Carrbridge Community Council noted the application, which falls within their area, at their meeting on 24 May 2025. While they have no specific comment on the application itself, they endorse the principle of applicants seeking planning approval before starting work.