Formal Board Paper 1 Annex 1.2 - Policy monitoring

This document contains an evidence report from March 2026 for the Cairngorms National Park, which monitors how well its Local Development Plan 2021 policies are working, especially since Scotland's National Planning Framework 4 was introduced. The report looked at over one thousand planning applications between April 2021 and March 2025, finding that most were approved, suggesting the plan is largely effective. Policies about design and placemaking, new housing, and natural heritage were used most often. Discussions with staff and developers showed that while many policies are doing well, the Park Authority needs to create new local policies. These new policies will fill gaps left by the National Planning Framework 4, covering things like specific targets for affordable housing, protecting important economic areas, and safeguarding the unique landscapes and natural resources of the Cairngorms National Park. Some stakeholders expressed concerns that ambitious affordable housing targets might make development difficult, and the Park Authority plans to use all this feedback for the next Local Development Plan.