Plans get go ahead for consultation

A proposed Local Development Plan (LDP) and an Economic Action Plan for the Cairngorms National Park were approved for consultation in the New Year by the National Park Authority Board in Grantown-on-Spey this morning (Friday 7 December).

The two plans are key parts of the overall strategy for managing the National Park, helping to deliver one of the long term outcomes for the area – agreed by Scottish Ministers in 2017, of ‘a sustainable economy supporting thriving business and communities’. Both plans are intended to maintain the population of the Cairngorms National Park and to help keep and attract young and working age people.

The Proposed LDP identifies land for development and policies to ensure it is delivered in ways that deliver social and economic benefits for the National Park at the same time as conserving and enhancing the Park’s natural and cultural heritage. It has ambitious targets for affordable housing in the communities that need it, as well as opportunities for business development and diversification.

The Economic Action Plan will focus the work of the public, private and voluntary sectors that all support economic development around five priority themes of:

• Building on economic strengths of the Park
• Supporting and attracting business
• Education, training and skills development
• Infrastructure
• Social Enterprise

Both plans will be published for consultation for a 10 week period from January until March 2019.

Murray Ferguson, the CNPA’s Director of Planning and Rural Development explained: “These plans combine to create a powerful tool in delivering sustainable development in the National Park. The LDP provides a framework for the sustainable use of land in future, matching the best development in the best places, while the Economic Action Plan will support business activity and economic growth, all aimed at keeping and attracting young and working age people in National Park to maintain thriving business and communities.”

Eleanor Mackintosh, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Committee commented: “It is great to see another milestone being achieved in the delivery of the next LDP for the Cairngorms National Park and I hope that people will get involved in this next stage of the process as we go out to consultation in the New Year.”

Xander McDade, Convener of the Cairngorms National Park Authority Board said: “The CNPA Board is committed to ensuring the National Park’s communities remain healthy and sustainable in future. That means tackling difficult issues for rural areas such as the lack of affordable housing and the opportunities for young people that lead to depopulation and an aging population. These plans and their delivery are an important part of our strategy.”

With regards the Proposed LDP – following the consultation period – all formal responses will be assessed, collated and the necessary documents will be prepared and presented to Board members before being submitted to Scottish Ministers for examination by an Independent Report, with a view to the Plan being ready for adoption in 2020.

You can view all the papers from today’s CNPA board meeting here.