Formal Board Paper 1 Annex 1.0 Evidence Report - Introduction
Cairngorms National Park Authority Ughdarras Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh
Formal Board Paper 1 Annex 1.0 13 March 2026
Paper 1
Annex 1.0
Cairngorms National Park Authority Ughdarras Pàirc Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh
Cairngorms National Park
Local Development Plan:
Evidence Report
Cairngorms National Park Authority March 2026
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Table of contents
- Introduction 3
- The Cairngorms National Park 5
- Planning in the Cairngorms National Park 6
- Appropriateness of the Local Development Plan 2021 spatial strategy 10
- Legislative requirements 10
- National Planning Framework 4 11
- Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 25
- The Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 38
- National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 42
- Summary of key implications for the Proposed Plan 44
- Overarching topics 44
- Sustainable places 44
- Liveable places 45
- Productive places 48
- Statement of engagement 50
- Key agencies 51
- Children and young people 54
- Disabled people 55
- Gypsies and Travellers 57
- Community councils 58
- The public at large 61
- Local place plans 68
- Self build list 68
- Conformity with Participation statement 69
- Statements of dispute and evidence gaps 72
- Impact assessments 74
- Equality impact assessment and fairer Scotland assessment 74
- Strategic environmental assessment 74
- Habitats regulations appraisal 75
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan: Evidence Report 2026
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Schedules
Document reference
Overarching topics
- Schedule 1: Plan outcomes CNPA1392
- Schedule 2: Policy monitoring CNPA1393
- Schedule 3: Site assessment methodology CNPA1394
Sustainable places
- Schedule 4: Climate change CNPA1395
- Schedule 5: Natural heritage CNPA1396
- Schedule 6: Landscape CNPA1397
- Schedule 7: Historic and cultural heritage CNPA1398
- Schedule 8: Land use, soil and resources CNPA1399
- Schedule 9: Energy CNPA1400
- Schedule 10: Zero waste CNPA1401
- Schedule 11: Sustainable transport CNPA1402
Liveable places
- Schedule 12: Living locally and 20 minute neighbourhoods CNPA1403
- Schedule 13: Housing CNPA1404
- Schedule 14: Education CNPA1405
- Schedule 15: Heating and cooling CNPA1406
- Schedule 16: Blue and green infrastructure CNPA1407
- Schedule 17: Play, recreation and sport CNPA1408
- Schedule 18: Health and safety CNPA1409
- Schedule 19: Flood risk and water management CNPA1410
- Schedule 20: Digital infrastructure CNPA1411
Productive places
- Schedule 21: Economic development CNPA1412
- Schedule 22: Town centres and retail CNPA1413
- Schedule 23: Tourism CNPA1414
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan: Evidence Report 2026
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Introduction
This is the Evidence Report for the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan 3, prepared in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended (CNPA003), the Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (CNPA684) and the associated Local Development Planning Guidance (CNPA009), published by the Scottish Government.
The Evidence Report was approved by The Cairngorms National Park Authority board on xx xxxx 2026. Following approval by the National Park Authority Board, the Evidence Report will be submitted to the Scottish Ministers for its gatecheck review to assess the sufficiency of the evidence to prepare the next Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan.
The Evidence Report reflects the initial stage of information and evidence gathering, shaped by early consultation and stakeholder engagement. The Evidence Report does not include site specific proposals or set out detailed planning policies and associated requirements. These will be developed during the subsequent Proposed Plan stage. Instead, the report outlines key considerations and actions to be addressed in the preparation of the Proposed Plan. The Park Authority has produced this Evidence Report on a topic basis, broadly seeking to follow the policy themes of National Planning Framework 4 (CNPA008). Where possible, the Park Authority has sought to gather the topic based information in a place based manner.
A necessary and proportionate approach has been taken when considering the evidence as the Evidence Report is not expected to be a compendium of all available information. The Park Authority consider the Evidence Report to provide a sufficient evidence base on which to prepare the next Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan. However, there are a very small number of disputes over the sufficiency of the evidence with stakeholders, and these are set out according to each topic.
The Park Authority has undertaken efforts to resolve disputes by responding to the parties concerned with further clarification and / or engagement where it was considered disputes could be addressed. Where considered appropriate and proportionate, amendments were made to the evidence base. Any disputes noted within the Evidence Report refer solely to those that remain unresolved.
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan: Evidence Report 2026
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The evidence and summary of engagement are arranged within twenty three topic based schedules. While these schedules have their own page numbering and referencing systems, they are part of the evidence report.
The Evidence Report also contains:
- A statement on the nature of planning in the Cairngorms National Park.
- A statement on the appropriateness of the Cairngorms National Park 2021 spatial strategy.
- A statement of compliance with legislative requirements.
- A summary of the main implications arising from the evidence base.
- A statement on the engagement carried out in preparing the Evidence Report.
- Statements of agreement and dispute and evidence gaps.
- A site assessment checklist¹.
¹ See Schedule 2: Site assessment methodology.
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan: Evidence Report 2026
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The Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms National Park was designated in 2003 by the Scottish Parliament because it satisfied the conditions for a National Park as set out in the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000 (CNPA004). The Cairngorms National Park is the UK’s largest, with a total land area of some 4,528km². Dominated by mountain plateau, it boasts extensive moorland, forest and straths and is home to around 25% of the UK’s threatened bird, animal and plant species. According to Scotland’s Census 2022 (CNPA439), approximately 17,500 people live in the Cairngorms National Park, and in