Town centres and retail topic

This document contains an engagement version, dated August 2025, regarding the topic of town centres and retail within the Cairngorms National Park. It outlines the requirements addressed in the section, citing the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 and linking them to the principal physical, cultural, economic, and environmental characteristics of the district, the purposes for which land is used, the health needs of the population, and the need to seek the views of key agencies. The document provides numerous links to evidence, including acts, action plans, planning guidance, and community action plans for various towns and villages within the park. It summarizes evidence by looking at policy context, mainly the National Planning Framework 4 which specifically addresses town centres and promotes a town centre first approach to development that seeks to support and sustain cities, towns and local centres, and recognises the importance of culture for the communities. Lastly, it looks at baseline matters, that summarise a number of matters relating to retail and town centres in the Cairngorms National Park.