WARNING: By their nature, text files cannot include scanned iamges and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the original PDF version of this document. Cairngorms National Park Development Plan Scheme March 2010 How the Cairngorms National Park Authority will prepare the new Development Plan and how you can get involved "The planning system is changing to make it easier for people to get involved" PAN81, the Scottish Government advice on Community Engagement "Effective community engagement means ensuring that people are made aware of proposals that affect them as early in the process as is possible, that they have the facts to allow them to make a contribution, that they have had the opportunity to engage and that having made their views known, they get clearer explanations of how and why decisions were made." PAN81, the Scottish Government advice on Community Engagement 1. Introduction The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) is currently taking its Local Plan through the final stages of its preparation, following on from the Public Inquiry that was held in May / June 2009. It is envisaged that the Local Plan will be adopted by the end of 2010. It will then be used by the Park Authority and the four local authorities within the Cairngorms National Park, (Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland and Moray), to assess planning applications for development. A Scottish Government consultation is taking place at the moment on proposals to extend the National Park boundary into Highland Perthshire. The Development Plan Scheme for 2011 will reflect any changes that come about as a result of this consultation. The Local Plan provides a framework of policies and proposals to guide and manage the development and use of land for a five year period. The CNPA will start working on a new replacement Plan for the National Park, which will be called the Local Development Plan, in Spring 2010. This will ensure that the new Plan is timely, up-to-date and valid, best reflecting the changing needs and context of the Park. 2. The Cairngorms National Park The Cairngorms National Park was established in September 2003 and is the UK's largest at 3800 sq km. The area was designated a National Park because of its outstanding natural environment and cultural heritage. Dominated by mountain plateau, it boasts extensive moorland, forest and straths, and is home to 25% of the UKÕs threatened bird, animal and plant species. Approximately 16,000 people live in the Park and it welcomes 1.4 million visitors each year. NOTE: The section below includes an image which cannot be converted to text. Please see original PDF for reference. For further information please refer to the Scottish GovernmentÕs Guide to the Planning System. 3. The Development Plan Scheme This Development Plan Scheme outlines how the CNPA will prepare the new Local Development Plan. It includes a provisional timetable, indicating what is involved at each stage, and showing how the public will be encouraged to engage with the process in a meaningful way. The Development Plan Scheme outlines the requirement to publish, and annually update, an ambitious but realistic timetable Ð as required under the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 Ð in particular specifying when the Park Authority expects to: 1. Publish its Main Issues Report; 2. Publish the proposed Development Plan; and 3. Submit the Development Plan to Scottish Ministers. 4. Development Plans Ð present and emerging Development Plans have always been a critical part of the planning system. They form the basis (along with other material considerations) for determining planning applications. The Development Plan now The Development Plans consists of two separate parts. The Structure Plan for an area takes a long-term view of development, considering its general scale and broadly where it should be located. Taking their strategic direction from the Structure Plan, Local Plans are often for smaller areas and set out more detailed policies and proposals to guide development. The Park Authority currently utilises the various Development Plans put in place by the four local authorities operating in the Park. The Local Plan which is currently being produced for the whole Park, will eventually replace the four local authorities' Local Plans. Current Structure Plans: North East Scotland Together NEST 2001 The Highland Structure Plan 2001 Moray Structure Plan 2007 Dundee and Angus Structure Plan 2002 Current Local Plans: Aberdeenshire Local Plan 2005 Moray Local Plan 2008 Badenoch & Strathspey Local Plan 1997 Angus Local Plan Review 2008 Cairngorms National Park Deposit Local Plan (2nd Modifications) Cairngorms National Park Development Plan Scheme 03 The Development Plan in the future One of the key changes in the new planning system is a requirement to keep Development Plans up-to-date. Often plans are complex and become outdated - no longer reflecting the needs of the local area. These changes in the planning system will lead to the eventual reduction in the number and type of plans used, including removing the need for a Structure Plan for the National Park, and replacing local plans with Local Development Plans. This will create a single tier of Development Plans, as set out in the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006. Work to review and replace the current Local Plan will commence this year. This will enable us to put in place a Local Development Plan that reflects the needs of the modernised planning system. We intend to provide a full, robust and transparent planning framework, quickly and efficiently. The Park Authority will begin work on this process in Spring 2010 when we will begin to invite views from stakeholders and the public on the main issues affecting the Park. The Cairngorms National Park Plan Whilst the Cairngorms National Park Plan, published by the CNPA in 2007, is a material planning consideration, it is not part of the formal Development Plan for the National Park. It does however set out the strategic objectives which inform the Development Plan and forms a framework for the overall management of the Cairngorms National Park Ð which will be implemented through a wide range of partners and stakeholders - and details the Park AuthorityÕs policy for managing and co-ordinating its functions. 5. The Development PlanÕs relationship to other plans The Local Development Plan is not produced in a vacuum. It is one of a number of key documents and strategies, that together form the policy context for all new development within the Cairngorms National Park. It is influenced by, and influences a range of other documents. The key relationship in the National Park is with the National Park Plan. This provides the strategic overview and vision, from which the policies in the Local Development Plan will flow. NOTE: This section contains graphs or charts which cannot be converted accurately to text. Please see original PDF for reference. Cairngorms National Park Plan Local Plan review other relevant strategies eg Core Paths Plan, Local Housing Strategies, community plans supplementary guidance eg Sustainable Design Guide, Masterplans/Development Briefs other supporting evidence eg topic based research National Guidance eg Scottish Planning Policy, Planning Advice Notes Development Plan 6. Participation: how the CNPA will engage others in the process of producing the Development Plan Working with communities is a key factor for the Cairngorms National Park Authority, and something that it has an ongoing commitment to. Consequently, engaging with communities is key in the production and implementation of the Local Development Plan. The CNPA board has endorsed standards which are based on the National Standards for Community engagement. In practice this means we are committed to involving communities (both geographical and of interest) in all stages of the formulation of our Local Development Plan, including preparing for any engagement, the engagement itself, and onto the implementation of identified actions. The production of the Local Development Plan is only one part of this ongoing commitment and work for the CNPA. The work on the Local Development Plan will not be carried out in isolation, and links will be made to many other plans, engagement exercises etc during the whole of its production. We will be building on information already gathered, views already put forward, and also lessons learnt from previous consultations, what went well, and what we should have done better. A key link is with the ongoing work in reviewing the National Park Plan. We are aiming to carry out joint consultation on the draft National Park Plan, and the Main Issues Report for the Local Development Plan in 2011. This should help people clearly see how the Plans relate to each other. We will not be doing this work on our own. The CNPA will work with partner organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors; organisations that play an active role in the community life of the National Park. Work on the Local Development Plan is not about the CNPA doing everything themselves: itÕs about making the most of the resources and expertise that already exists within the National Park. Working with partners who already play an active role in the community life of the National Park will help us as a Park Authority to understand the opportunities and challenges that our communities face in the future, and help us to be able to begin to address them. We will be making links with the existing Community Planning Partnerships in the Park, and working with our constituent Local Authorities to ensure our statutory roles and responsibilities link well together. We will also be working closely with Inclusive Cairngorms, and various other advisory fora to help ensure we gain the input and engagement of a wide variety of stakeholders and people with an interest in the National Park. This will help us to identify the barriers that prevent people from getting involved in the planning process. We will then work collectively to ensure that we address these issues. We recognise the importance of ensuring clear messages are given to all interested parties at various stages in the Plan preparation process. We will ensure that everyone is clear about how and when they can get involved, and exactly what is expected of them at each stage in the process. This means that we will engage with people in a variety of ways, and how we do this will be appropriate to the responses required. This will be set out in a clear and coherent communications strategy. 7.0 The Development Plan: Action Plan and Timetable The Action Plan and Timetable identifies the main stages of the process: the timescales are reflective of the preparatory work required, availability of a robust evidence base and the scale of engagement and consultation we need to undertake. However some stages may take longer than envisaged and we will ensure that stakeholders and the public are kept informed with regular updates on the process. NOTE: This section sets out information in table format, which cannot be converted accurately into text. Please see original PDF for reference. Stage Action Plan Strategic Environmental Timescale Stage 1 Publish the Development None March 2010 Plan Scheme (DPS). Update annually. Stage 2 Initial publicity and engagement SEA Screening to inform Main Issues Report & Scoping Reports March 2010 and Process September 2010 Stage 3 Prepare and publish Main Issues Assess and prepare SEA September 2010 Report Ð formal consultation Environmental report for 12 weeks (minimum). consultation August 2011 Stage 4 Prepare, publish and consult on Formal consultation August 2011 to Draft Plan Ð formal consultation June 2012 12 weeks. Stage 5 Public Examination None September/October 2012 - Local Plan Inquiry. Stage 6 Consider Reporters Recommendations, Modifications if required April 2013 to September publish any post-examination changes 2013 if required, advertise Stage 7 Adopt the Plan and Action Programme, December 2013 Adopt the SEA Report publicise intention to adopt, submit to Scottish Ministers. Stage 8 Put Plan in place and monitor None January 2014 against Action Programme. monitor annually Footnote: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) - This is a requirement under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The Local Development Plan must be assessed for its impacts on the environment at all stages in its production, and the findings from each stage of the assessment fed into the next stage of the production of the plan. Cairngorms National Park Development Plan Scheme Any questions? Need more information? Please contact the planning team: Cairngorms National Park Authority Albert Memorial Hall Station Square Ballater AB35 5QB Tel: 013397 53601 Fax: 013397 55334 Email: planning@cairngorms.co.uk www.cairngorms.co.uk Published by Cairngorms National Park Authority © CNPA 2010 All rights reserved. Main Office Cairngorms National Park Authority 14 The Square Grantown-on-Spey Moray PH26 3HG Tel: 01479 873535 Fax: 01479 873527