CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Planning Paper 1 05/12/03 
CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK AUTHORITY 
Title: CONSULTATION REPORT ON OUTLINE 
PROPOSAL 03/00292/OUTBS FOR A SCHEME OF 117 
HOUSES IN CARRBRIDGE. 
Prepared by: NORMAN BROCKIE, PLANNING OFFICER (Local 
Plan/Policy) 
Purpose 
This aim of this report is to offer consultation comments to Highland Council on this outline 
application. This is the third application for this site (See Fig. 1 below); the previous 
application (from the same applicant) was smaller in scale but raised a high level of local 
objection. It has not been withdrawn and stays valid while this application also proceeds. 
Fig. 1 Site Location 
Image not available in txt format
Recommendations 
The Board supports the consultation comments to be passed onto Highland Council. 
 
Executive Summary 
This proposal is for a development of 117 houses in Carrbridge, a development which would 
increase the size of the village by approximately 30% with one housing scheme. 
The initial question must be, does this proposal promote sustainable economic and social 
development of the community?; and then, does this proposal meet the collective aims of the 
CNP? 
The answer to both questions is no. This proposal would develop a large suburban-type 
layout on the edge of a small village, which has retained its character through periods of 
growth and incremental expansion. There are serious questions as to whether there is enough 
provision for water supply and drainage treatment, and the village school is already close to 
capacity. 
The scale and layout of this proposal will have an adverse impact on the character and 
structure of Carrbridge. The proposal is also contrary to the Badenoch & Strathspey Local 
Plan relative to land zoned for housing. 
THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT 
Issues 
A comment in brackets refers to comments made at a public meeting in Carrbridge on 28th 
August 2003. 
1. The scale of this development, which increases the size of Carrbridge by approximately 
30%, and will be in conflict with the following Structure Plan [SP] and Local Plan [LP] 
policies: 
SP Policy G2: Design for Sustainability: are compatible with service provision. It is 
highly debatable whether the water supply can cope with demand (public opinion 
says no, Scottish Water say yes), is there capacity for sewerage & drainage? and 
the village primary school (apparently) is already near capacity. 
SP Policy G2: Design for Sustainability: demonstrate sensitive siting and high 
quality design in keeping with local character and natural environment. The 
suburban layout of this large scheme pays no regard to the structure and context of 
Carrbridge. 
LP 5.1.1 & 5.1.2 and Carrbridge Proposals Map (See Fig. 2 below) Image not available in txt format, zones up to 101 
house sites in 13 blocks, loosely clustered to continue/consolidate the existing 
village structure. This proposal has one huge scheme of 83 houses which has little 
or no connection to Carrbridge, 5 house-sites are tacked-onto Rowan park, and the 
‘affordable-housing’ section of 28 plots is cast beyond the village perimeter (into 
what was zoned as ‘amenity woodland’). There would also be concern at a future 
stage that the 89 houses for sale are not all of identical design, and that reference is 
made to the cultural heritage of the area. 
Fig. 2 - Carrbridge proposals map from Badenoch & Strathspey Local Plan (the dark & 
light brown zones (1.1e, 1.2a & 1.2b) were zoned for new and long-term housing 
respectively. Yellow is recreation/open space.)  SP Policy G3: Impact Assessments. Presumably an environmental and socioeconomic 
impact assessment will be required? 
SP Policy G4: Community Benefit and Commitment. Presumably there will be 
agreements sought with the developer to provide environmental, socio-economic 
and infrastructure contributions. 
SP H4&5: Affordable Housing. The fact that the affordable housing is cast not only 
outwith the main development, but well outwith the existing village boundary, is a 
cause for serious concern; affordable/ social housing should be integrated within the 
community, not cast out of it. The plot sizes for the affordable units are also 
extremely small, limiting the scope of housing that can be built (See Fig. 3 below).  

16 ALBYN H.A. 8 
G.R.O. AND 4 
PRIVATE PLOTS 
PRIVATE 
SALE 
PLOTS 
Fig. 3 Image not available in txt format - The proposed site layout (the 89 pink/red sites are for private sale, the 28 pink/blue 
sites are 16 Albyn H.A. 8 G.R.O. and 4 private plots.)