Cairngorms 2030: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report…

Cairngorms 2030 plans

STRATEGY

Cairngorms NATIONAL PARK Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh

Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report June 2022

Cover Note PART I

To: [email protected] SEA Gateway 2 H (South) Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ

PART 2

An SEA Scoping Report is attached for the plan, programme or strategy (PPS) entitled:

Cairngorms 2030 plans

The Responsible Authority is:

Cairngorms National Park Authority

PART 3

The PPS falls under the scope of Section 5(3) of the Act and requires an SEA under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. or

X The PPS falls under the scope of Section 5(4) of the Act and requires an SEA under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. or

The PPS does not require an SEA under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act

However, we wish to carry out an SEA on a voluntary basis. We accept that, as this SEA is voluntary, the statutory 5 week timescale for views from the Consultation Authorities cannot be guaranteed.

PART 4

Contact name

Nina Caudrey

Job Title

Planning Officer (Development Planning and Environmental Advice)

Contact address

Cairngorms National Park Authority 14 The Square Grantown-on-Spey PH26 3HG

Contact telephone no

01479 873535

Contact email

ninacaudrey@cairngorms.co.uk

PART 5

Signature (electronic signature is acceptable)

Nina Caudrey

Date

I June 2022

Table of Contents

Context I a. Background | b. About the Cairngorms 2030 plans 2

c. Other relevant plans, programmes and strategies 2

Scoping information 2

a. Topics considered 2

b. Topics scoped in 3

c. Environmental baseline 3

Proposed environmental assessment methodology 3

a. Process 3

b. Assessment templates and SEA objectives 4

c. Longevity and permanence of effects 4

d. Alternatives and mitigation 4

e. Cumulative and in-combination effects 4

f. Other environmental assessments 5

Next steps a. Scoping advice sought from consultation authorities b. Draft Environmental Report proposed consultation period || c. Indicative timescales for plan preparation and consultation ||

Annex I: Outline information for Cairngorms 2030 plans scoped in 12

Annex II: Relevant plans, programmes and strategies 17

Annex III: Baseline environmental data 35

Annex IV: Data analysis information 36

Annex V: Protected area condition data 40

Note: Topic papers are separate documents

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Context

a. Background

Cairngorms 2030 is a programme consisting of 23 plans to tackle climate change and the nature crisis, delivering an economy that works for all, covering the Cairngorms National Park (figure 1). At present, funding has been secured for stage I, the developing ideas stage. The plans are being worked up during summer 2022, with the intention being that they will be submitted for a second funding round bid by June 2023 for stage 2, the delivery stage, from October 2023 onwards (if the funding bid is successful).

All of the stage I plans were previously screened for environmental effects. Ten were identified as having the potential to have significant environmental effects, and are subject to this scoping report.

Cromdale Glenlivet Dulnain Carr-Bridge Bridge Nethy Boat of Bridge Garten Aviemore Inverdruie Glenmore Kincraig Kingussie Insh Newtonmore

0 Laggan Dalwhinnie Blair Atholl Killiecrankie Tomintoul Strathdon North Dinnet Ballater Braemar Clova Glenshee 0 5 10 20 30 40 Kilometers

Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO. Crown copyright and database right 2015. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100040965 Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Figure I — the area covered by the National Park Partnership Plan.

As the plans are at the developing ideas stage, this has made detailed scoping difficult, as the detailed content of the plans is unknown. However, sufficient information is available to enable high level scoping for potential environmental effects by using the broad categories outlined by SEA Topics (as defined in section 2. Scoping information).

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

b. About the Cairngorms 2030 plans

Due to the funding mechanism through the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Cairngorms 2030 plans are separate from any other CNPA plans, programmes or strategies. The Cairngorms 2030 plans are not dependent on any other CNPA plans, programmes or strategies and vice versa. However the outcomes of the delivery stage of Cairngorms 2030 plans would coincidentally contribute towards the aims and objectives of a number of CNPA plans, programmes and strategies such as the National Park Partnership Plan, Cairngorms Nature Action Plan, Local Development Plan, Forest Strategy and Peatland Action Programme.

Outline information on each of the Cairngorms 2030 plans scoped in for environmental assessment is found in Annex I: Outline information for Cairngorms 2030 plans scoped in.

C. Other relevant plans, programmes and strategies

There are a large number of other plans, programmes and strategies (PPS) that are of relevance to the Cairngorms 2030 plans. Due to their number, these are listed in Annex I. The PPS are categorised according to their international, national and local scales and are accompanied by information on their purpose, relationship with the Cairngorms 2030 plans and their relevance to the environmental assessment.

The environmental assessment that informs the Environmental Report will need to consider the PPS that are active at the time of writing. Therefore this aspect of the assessment will be reviewed as the assessment progresses.

Scoping information

a. Topics considered

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 lists categories of potential environmental effects that should be considered as part of the environmental assessment process. These have been grouped together into eight Topic areas. The Topics are:

Topic 1: Climatic Factors

Topic 2: Air

Topic 3: Water

Topic 4: Soil (including geodiversity’)

Topic 5: Material Assets

¹ With the small number of commercial quarries in the Park, geodiversity is more relevant to soils (Topic 4) in the Park. Therefore, consideration of geodiversity will be included under Topic 4, Soils, rather than the conventional location of Topic 5, Material Assets. (The contribution of mineral extraction to resources will however still be included under Topic 5.)

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Topic 6: Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna

Topic 7: Landscape and Cultural Heritage

Topic 8: Population and Human Health

b. Topics scoped in

All the SEA Topics identified in section 2.a have been scoped in, as the nature of the Cairngorms 2030 plans (when considered together) and baseline issues identified in the Topic papers have the potential to influence all topics.

C. Environmental baseline

The separate Topic papers present detailed information on the environmental baseline, ordered by the eight different topic areas: climatic factors, air, water, soil, material assets, biodiversity flora and fauna, landscape and cultural heritage, population and human health.

Proposed environmental assessment methodology

a. Process

The intended SEA process is to:

Gather environmental baseline data and information, identify draft methodology.

Consult on the scoping report, to confirm the environmental baseline is complete and agree the assessment methodology with consultation authorities (current stage).

Alongside the preparation of the stage I Cairngorms 2030 plans, carry out environmental assessment and prepare a draft Environmental Report for the plans, using the assessment methodology and taking into account consultation authority advice on the scoping report.

Consult on the draft Environmental Report and Cairngorms 2030 plans prepared for the next round of bidding for funding.

Review the successful (at the next round of bidding for funds) Cairngorms 2030 plans and amend the Environmental Report accordingly, taking into account consultation authority advice.

Stage I of the Cairngorms 2030 programme will be complete, issue a post-adoption statement on the Environmental Report.

As the Cairngorms 2030 programme moves into stage 2 (delivery), monitor environmental effects, identify and implement mitigation where unexpected adverse effects occur.

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

b. Assessment templates and SEA objectives

At this stage, it is intended that the assessment will focus on the elements of the plans that will result in changes, development or activities on the ground that may have environmental effects. Tables 1, 2 and 3 will be used as a basis for carrying out the environmental assessment and recording the findings. Table I (found in section f, Other environmental assessments) provides the intended scoring matrix that will be used to ensure consistency during the environmental assessment. Tables 2 and 3 (found in section f, Other environmental assessments) provides the main objectives and template for scoring and recording potential environmental effects during the environmental assessment. It incorporates proposed SEA objectives and sub-objectives that each element of the Cairngorms 2030 plans will be scored against.

Where available, guidance published by the consultation authorities has been used as a basis for setting the SEA objectives and sub-objectives. These relate to the specific SEA environmental receptors and issues that have the potential to be affected by the Cairngorms 2030 plans.

The information and issues identified as part of the baseline have also been used to inform which objectives and sub-objectives are relevant to the environmental assessment of the Cairngorms 2030 plans.

The SEA objectives and questions are provisional and may be modified during the SEA process — for example as a result of comments from the Consultation Authorities, changes in the baseline data when it is fully collected and/or if the content of the Cairngorms 2030 plans cover different subject matter than currently expected.

c. Longevity and permanence of effects

Consideration of longevity and scale of effects is built in to the assessment table template, so will form an integral part of the environmental assessment for each element assessed.

d. Alternatives and mitigation

At this stage, the detail of the potential actions and options to be explored, as well as any possible alternatives are unknown. However alternative options will be considered and assessed as different options start to emerge during the drafting of the stage I plans.

e. Cumulative and in-combination effects

Consideration of the potential for cumulative and in-combination effects will be included as an integral part of the environmental assessment process for individual elements of the plan. A review of the assessment results will also be undertaken to double check any cumulative or in-combination effects that may not have been apparent during individual assessments.

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

f. Other environmental assessments

A Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) will be undertaken at the same time as the draft Environmental Report. The HRA will be used to inform the Environmental Report and vice versa as part of an iterative process.

In addition, if it becomes apparent during the plan development process that a plan or elements of it falls under other environmental assessment legislation, then the relevant assessment process will be followed. For example, some of the transport and travel options might fall within the thresholds of requiring ElΑ.

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report Table I — scoring matrix June 2022

Significance of Effect

Element would have a major positive environmental effect in its current form as it would resolve an existing issue or maximise ++ opportunities. SIGNIFICANT.

Element would have a minor positive environmental effect. +

Effect of Element is uncertain. ?

No connectivity with the environmental Topic/Objective being assessed. X

Element would have no predicted environmental effects. 0

Element would have a minor adverse environmental effect.

The Element would have a major adverse environmental effect as it

would create significant new problems or substantially exacerbate existing

problems. Consider exclusion of option. SIGNIFICANT.

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report Table 2 – main environmental objectives Topic Objective number Main Objective(s) Climatic factors la June 2022

Reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases with particular focus on emissions from buildings, transport, energy generation and industry (especially CO2), but also from natural carbon sinks (such as woodlands and peatlands).

Climatic factors Ib Ensure existing and proposed infrastructure and buildings are located and designed to cope with future climate conditions.

Air 2a To maintain or improve air quality and reduce emissions of key pollutants.

Water 3a Maintain and improve the quality of water resources and to protect and enhance the state of the water environment.

Water 3b Reduce demand for water and minimise unnecessary water use.

Water 3c To reduce the impact of invasive non-native species on the water environment.

Soil and 4a geodiversity Minimise contamination and safeguard and improve soil, peat quality and geodiversity.

Material assets 5a Encourage the sustainable use and reuse of material assets.

Biodiversity 6a Protect and enhance the biodiversity of the National Park. flora and fauna

Landscape and 7a cultural heritage Protect and enhance the character, diversity and special qualities of the landscapes of the Park.

Landscape and 7b cultural heritage Protect and enhance the historic and cultural environment and assets (including linguistic) of the Park.

Population and 8a human health Support and enhance the health and wellbeing of residents and visitors to the Park through housing, recreation and employment opportunities.

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Table 3 — environmental assessment template

SEA Issue / Topic

Insert Issue / Topic title

SEA Objective(s):

Insert SEA Objective(s)

Significant Interrelationships

Insert significant relationships with other SEA Issues / Topic

Assessor(s):

Insert assessor(s)’s name

Date of Assessment:

Insert date(s) of assessment

SECTION OF PLAN BEING ASSESSED:

(eg Vision, Policy X, Option IA, etc)

Assessment of environmental effects

SEA objective SEA sub-objective

Nature of effect Insert a description of the nature of the potential effect the Option will have on the issue against the criteria set out by the SEA Objective. Include consideration of cumulative effects. Link to baseline information as necessary.

Scoring: significance of effect before mitigation Insert scoring for the significance of the environmental effect BEFORE mitigation (using the symbology in Table 1)

Mitigation and enhancement Insert information on how adverse effects will be mitigated and/or how enhancements will be used to create positive effects.

Scoring: residual significance of effect after mitigation Insert scoring for the residual significance of the environmental effect AFTER mitigation (using the symbology in Table 1)

la Will there be an effect on energy conservation and efficiency in new development?

Will there be an effect on the production of renewable energy of appropriate scale for the Park?

Will there be an effect on local production and use of materials

Considering future implications of climate change (eg increased severity of weather resulting in more flooding, periods of drought and extremes of temperature), will there be an effect on existing infrastructure and buildings?

Will there be an effect on carbon sinks (such as woodlands and peatlands)?

Will there be an effect on travel that produces greenhouse gas emissions?

Will there be an effect on the levels of UK National Air Quality pollutants (e.g. NO2, PM10, PM2.5, SO2)?

Will there be an effect on the levels of other types of air pollution (eg particulates)?

Will there be an effect on the water quality of rivers, lochs and ground-water from diffuse and point source pollution?

Will there be an effect on the ability of river catchments to store water and the natural flood management services they provide?

Will there be an effect on public water supplies?

Will there be an effect on demand for water

from development (residential and business)?

Will there be an effect 3b

on sustainable use of water resources?

Will there be an effect on the water 3c

environment from invasive non-native species?

Will there be an effect 4a on carbon rich soils, in particular peat?

Will there be an effect on soil sealing, soil structure and soil loss?

Will there be an effect 4a

on the levels of soil contamination?

Will there be an effect on soil erosion and landslides?

Will there be an effect on geodiversity interests (eg GCRs)?

Will there be an effect on sustainable use of natural resources (eg water, timber, aggregates)?

Will there be an effect on the sustainable use and management of existing and proposed infrastructure (eg water, heat, energy or flood protection infrastructure)?

Will there be an effect on the use of finite resources through the use of secondary and recycled materials?

Will there be an effect on the favourable condition of areas protected for nature conservation?

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Will there be an effect 6a on protected species?

Will there be an effect 6a on Cairngorms Nature Action Plan habitats and plants?

Will there be an effect 6a on Cairngorms Nature Action Plan bird and mammal species?

Will there be an effect 6a on wider biodiversity (outwith protected areas and the habitats and species identified in the CNAP) in the National Park?

Will there be an effect 6a on deer management practices that seek to reduce environmental effects?

Will there be an effect 6a on land management practices that seek to avoid the introduction and spread of invasive non-native species and tree diseases?

Will there be an effect 7a on the special qualities of the National Park landscapes?

Will there be an effect 7a landscape character and local distinctiveness?

Will there be an effect 7b on the historic and cultural environment and assets (including linguistic)?

Will there be an effect 8a on housing for local needs?

Will there be an effect 8a on recreation and active travel opportunities that support healthier lifestyles?

Will there be an effect 8a on employment opportunities local to places of residence?

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Cairngorms 2030 SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Next steps

a. Scoping advice sought from consultation authorities

As described in the previous sections, all Topics have been scoped in but the detailed contents of the Cairngorms 2030 plans in relation to changes, development or activity on the ground are unknown at this stage. CNPA therefore wish to seek the particular advice of the consultation authorities on:

the proposed methodology (section 3)

whether there are gaps or errors in the environmental baseline information identified in separate Topic papers,

if there is new information that is expected to become available over the next 3 – 6 months that could be useful to add to the environmental baseline.

The advice of the consultation authorities will be valuable for informing both the environmental assessment and the plans going forward.

b. Draft Environmental Report proposed consultation period

A six to eight week consultation period is anticipated for the draft Environmental Report.

C. Indicative timescales for plan preparation and consultation

At present, funding has been secured for stage I, the developing ideas stage for the Cairngorms 2030 plans. The plans are being worked up during summer 2022, with the intention being that they will be submitted for a second funding round bid by June 2023, with stage 2, the delivery stage, from October 2023 onwards (if the funding bid is successful).

(Once the plans have been developed, they will be subject to a second funding bid, and if successful, stage 2, the delivery stage, is likely to be subject to further SEA and/or project level ElΑ if more appropriate.)

।।

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

Annex I: Outline information for Cairngorms 2030 plans scoped in

Cairngorms 2030 plan Context: high level plan summary

(Note this is not subject to assessment as it is the outcomes for stages 1 and 2 that will deliver the plan, so the outcomes are assessed rather than the high level summaries.)

Stage 1: outline of anticipated plan outcomes subject to change as the plans go through the iterative process of being developed (This is what has been screened.)

1c Dementia Activity Resource Centre Demonstrating the benefits of outdoor dementia care and designing world class therapeutic green health interventions, Alzheimer Scotland will develop the country’s first Outdoor Resource Centre specifically designed to support people living with dementia, their carers and families. Spending time in the outdoors is an important part of living well with dementia and can improve mental and physical well-being and links to Cairngorms 2030 work on Green Referrals (plan 1b). This will enable people to enjoy and explore the outdoor environment. Based at Badaguish Outdoor Centre (near Glenmore), stakeholders will be consulted, the building leased and renovated, and a programme of outdoor based therapeutic activities will be delivered.

Two staff employed
Stakeholders engaged and plans developed
Building leased and renovated
Research and evaluation programme established
Programme of activities developed and delivered

5b Peatland restoration Restoring peatlands is key in the fight against climate change, improving water quality, flood alleviation, reducing wildfire and improving the Park’s biodiversity. This plan aims to contribute c4,625ha to peatland restoration. Biodiversity will be significantly improved in the Park. c7 FTE jobs per annum through peatland restoration will be supported.

Digitised degrade peat map produced
Desk based data collection to build project GIS; peatland restoration aerial survey; data compilation and mapping
Liaison with Land owners for inclusion in NLHF project
Identify project sites for 5 year programme — up to 15 estates
Desk top review of proposed projects and locations
Map project sites and outline project brief for 15 estates
Continuation of new entrants scheme & training
Contribute to Scottish-wide Contractor training programme
Develop contractor training materials for peatland restoration techniques (videos, guidance notes & Machine cab leaflets)
Explore options/practicalities for volunteer involvement with the Bog Squad (Peatland ACTION funded project) for sites in National Park
Working with project (4b) establish a private finance project to run during the development phase, work up 1 – 2 potential private finance funded peatland projects for the delivery phase
Land owner agreements/MoU produced and signed off

5c Climate resilient catchments Deliver three to four large scale restoration demonstration projects within the River Dee, River Spey & Angus Glens catchments which maximise on ecosystem service provision within the Cairngorms National Park. Ensure projects are multi-benefit and incorporate as many ecosystem services as possible ‑eg recreation, habitat linkage, pollution reduction in addition to climate change adaptation (flood reduction, lowering water temperature and increasing low flow resilience). Help reduce flood risk and ensure that the rivers continue to deliver for the people and wildlife that depend upon them. It has three overall aims: (1) River restoration techniques: putting in large woody structures to re-create lost meanders and varied habitats; riparian planting to provide shade and stabilise banks; re-connect rivers to their floodplains to slow the flow of water and create wetlands to store and purify water. Strong emphasis on community involvement, research and education. (2) Connect communities: Helping to reduce flood risk is a key aim of this project and we will work with local community, landowners and local authorities to integrate natural flood management strategies. Community perceptions and values of the Cairngorms landscape will be a powerful engagement tool and can be used to develop understanding of how land-use and change can impact on flood risk for example. Knowledge and understanding are central to people’s willingness to not only accept change but be a part of it which in turn helps to incorporate wider ecosystem service benefit. (3) Catchment Partnerships working together: Supporting learning, sharing and joint working between the catchment partnerships. The catchments of the Dee and the Spey and the Dee and the Angus Glens are physically close and there has long been an aspiration of woodland connection between them all strengthening habitat network connection and allowing species to move freely, which is key to climate change adaptation.

Desk-based review of potential projects and sites including GIS mapping
Consultant works to develop concept designs for all three catchments
Consultation with communities regarding potential options
Review of designs, consultation feedback and decisions taken on delivery stage projects to be delivered.
Relevant approvals and permissions secured

6a Ebikes This plan is about identifying opportunities to support functional e‑bike use around the communities of the Cairngorms National Park and by visitors to appropriate key attractions. During the development phase it will identify and assess the accessibility of key destinations by e‑bike, a suitable fleet and hire model for an accessible e‑bike network/loan scheme and consult with relevant local businesses and stakeholders to identify this model. Crucial to this project is the creation a public/private partnership to ensure that local cycling businesses and communities are involved in options for managing and maintaining the fleet.

Carry out comprehensive research and assessment of existing provision of e‑bike networks (both community and commercial) in the Cairngorms National Park and wider, and the potential to grow this provision through identification of routes and audiences.
Based on the findings of the research and assessment make detailed practical costed recommendations which will enable the development and management of appropriate e- bike networks to facilitate people to swop cars for e‑bikes.
Develop a series of “goals” for the e‑bike network to achieve. These should include measurable targets for the five-year delivery project and formulas for calculating environmental impacts achieved eg carbon emission reductions.
Identify options for the legacy of the e‑bike fleet, so that at the end of the five-year delivery phase the e‑bikes can continue to be used to support visitors and residents to travel sustainably.

6b Glenmore transport plan This plan will seek to design a new sustainable model of transport to one of the National Park’s most visited areas. Work will include an initial appraisal of potential options and defining transport planning objectives. Outcomes of the initial appraisal will be used to justify and present the best performing measures and packages of measures for further appraisal effort. After conducting environmental and other impact assessments, which may exclude some options from further consideration, a preliminary options appraisal will establish a costed set of proposals that could include infrastructure modifications/improvements, new transport delivery models (.g demand responsive transport, mobility as a service, etc) and behaviour change initiatives.

Work will include an initial appraisal of potential options and defining transport planning objectives via:

Inception report Data baselining Community engagement outputs Problems and Opportunities report Vision and Transport Planning Objectives Initial Appraisal: Case for Change report Environmental assessment Other assessments Preliminary Options Appraisal reports Schedule for next (delivery) stage and material for the delivery phase submission

6c active communities Badenoch and Strathspey The Active Communities: Badenoch and Strathspey project aims to make walking, wheeling and cycling in the villages of Badenoch and Strathspey easy, safe and enjoyable and the obvious choice for short journeys, and to establish attractive outdoor gathering places for the benefit of those in the community.

Produce an action or investment plan for each village. Key milestones are:

Community engagement plan successfully delivered
Objectives and Action Plan agreed with stakeholders after community engagement
Updated action plan with concept designs for active travel and public realm approved
Behaviour change delivery plan created
Indicative activity schedule created for delivery stage work

Main outputs are:

Project Delivery Plan Community Engagement reports Feasibility reports Action Plans Draft concept designs Community engagement reports Updated Action Plan with costed up designs Behaviour Change activities plan Delivery stage schedule

6^d sustainable transport in Deeside This plan focuses on collaboration with Braemar and Ballater communities to realise easier and safer opportunities to walk, cycle and use a wheelchair around the villages.

Focusing on Ballater and Braemar and immediate vicinity:

Community engagement plan successfully delivered
Objectives and action plan agreed with stakeholders after community engagement
Final action plan approved with concept designs for active travel and public realm
Behaviour change delivery plan created
Indicative activity schedule created for delivery phase work

6^e sustainable transport in Highland Perthshire The Active Communities: Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie plan is twofold and therefore split up in phases. Phase one focuses on collaboration with the Blair Atholl community to realise easier and safer opportunities to walk, cycle and use a wheelchair around the villages. Phase two seeks to provide a walking and cycling route between Blair Atholl and Killiecrankie.

Focusing on Blair Atholl and immediate vicinity.

Community engagement plan successfully delivered
Objectives and Action Plan agreed with stakeholders after community engagement
Final Action Plan approved with Concept designs for active travel and public realm
Behaviour change delivery plan created
Indicative activity schedule created for delivery phase work

Looking at Killiecrankie — Blair Atholl active travel route options.

establish and deliver a community engagement plan to understand existing active travel patterns between Killiecrankie and Blair Atholl, ideas and needs as expressed by the local community and any barriers people face aside from the lack of safe and appropriate infrastructure.

carry out site investigations at and near existing infrastructure as well as at locations that warrant further consideration for developing.

The engagement output and technical deliverability assessments will be combined in a feasibility report which clearly sets out the opportunities and constraints, together with projected capital costs for the options if they would be implemented.

6f Active Aviemore The Active Aviemore plan aims to make walking, wheeling and cycling around Aviemore easy, safe, enjoyable and the obvious choice for short journeys for everyone.

A sound understanding of how people move around Aviemore and the place quality/function of the town.
A sound understanding of the physical infrastructure barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling around Aviemore. Establish to what extent this includes Grampian Road.
A good understanding of the non-infrastructure barriers to walking, wheeling and cycling around Aviemore and develop a corresponding behaviour change plan.
An agreed prioritised list of recommended infrastructure improvements.
An agreed concept design for key streets (likely to include Grampian Road) which rebalance the street in line with Transport Scotland’s transport hierarchy and focus on place quality and function. The designs must propose changes which will make it significantly easier, safer and more enjoyable for everyone to walk, wheel and cycle. The designs will also be future proofed for potential pedestrianisation in the future.

6g Cairngorms active travel plan Commission work to produce an Active Travel Network Plan that covers the whole of the Cairngorms National Park area and links to public transport provision. The Active Travel Network Plan will inform future active travel infrastructure development and initiatives to encourage its use within the National Park. Ultimately it will enable residents and visitors to travel more sustainably and reduce car dependency, contributing to the aims outlined above.

Through community, stakeholder and partner engagement and desk-based research, followed up by site visits where appropriate, collate and analyse: The existing provision for walking, wheeling and cycling and possible improvements New provision that is currently being planned/developed The barriers residents and visitors face to walking, wheeling and cycling

Existing travel patterns to understand where people need/want to travel to (including key visitor attractions)- this should explicitly consider the active journeys people cannot currently make due to lack of connections or suitable infrastructure

From this analysis, create a prioritised action plan of proposed active travel improvements to make it easy, safe and enjoyable for residents and visitors to choose active travel. The proposals should enhance place quality and prioritise accessibility for all. The action plan should identify delivery partners and estimated budgets. Include proposals on how other measures (e.g. behaviour change projects) could support the proposed infrastructure improvements to promote and encourage people to walk, wheel and cycle in the Park.

Cairngorms 2030 plans SEA Scoping Report June 2022

The following principal outputs are anticipated:

A report scoping existing Active Travel provision and emerging plans, policies and projects at a Regional Transport Partnership and Local Authority level.

Identify gaps in provision of active travel infrastructure and propose solutions that will address these gaps and add value to existing plans, policies and projects. It will be necessary to consider the other active travel projects taking place as part of Cairngorms 2030.

Cairngorms 2030 plans Sl

Annex II: Relevant plans, programmes and strategies Relevant PPS Relevant objectives/purpose SEA Topic Relationship between the PPS and the Cairngorms 2030 plans International Directives and Policies European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (European Council, 1992) European adopted under the auspices of the Council of Europe to protect and promote historical regional and minority languages in Europe. Identifies Gaelic as being an endangered language. Landscape and Cultural heritage Population and Human health The proposals should support the Gaelic language where relevant to the priorities identified. European Landscape Convention (European Commission, 2000) Promotes the protection, management and planning of European landscapes and organises European co-operation on landscape issues Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna Landscape and Cultural heritage Population and Human health Where relevant to the priorities identified, the proposals should be a tool for the maintenance and restoration of landscapes and their natural habitats. The Paris Agreement (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 2015) The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. Climatic Factors Where relevant to the priorities identified, the proposals should seek to promote the development and use of appropriate renewable energy sources and contribute to climate

Cairngorms 2030: Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report June 2022

Ele­ment would have a minor adverse envir­on­ment­al effect.

would cre­ate sig­ni­fic­ant new prob­lems or sub­stan­tially exacer­bate existing

We want your feedback

Element would have a minor adverse environmental effect.

would create significant new problems or substantially exacerbate existing