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Local Plan: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is a Local Plan?

A Local Plan is a document used to guide where and how built
development takes place in any particular part of Scotland. 
Local Plans contain detailed policies which help determine 
whether a particular planning application gets planning 
permission or not. In the Cairngorms National Park there 
are currently four Local Plans in place, covering each 
of the four authority areas but, by around the beginning 
of 2010, these will be replaced by one single Local Plan 
for the Park. It is this Plan that was discussed at the 
Local Plan Inquiry.

2. Why hold a Local Plan Inquiry?

A Local Plan Inquiry is held to hear any objections that 
have been made, but not withdrawn, to the Plan. There are 
strict rules and regulations from the Scottish Government 
about how the Inquiry should take place. The Reporters who 
will conduct the Inquiry come from the Scottish Government 
Directorate of Planning and Environmental Appeals. The 
overall purpose of the Inquiry is to make sure that
everyone has a chance to participate in the process and to 
ensure that the finalised Plan is a good as it 
possibly can be.

3. How did CNPA reach this stage in preparing the Plan?

Work started in September 2004 and included several rounds of 
public consultation using questionnaires, many meetings at 
local level and opportunities to submit written comments. 
Each consultation period resulted in a revised draft of the 
Plan, approved by the Planning Committee.

The most recent public consultation ended in December 2008. 
Many of peoples’ ideas for the Plan were incorporated at 
earlier stages. As the process moved on it became more formal 
and people had to submit “objections” as a way to get the Plan
changed. Many objections have been successfully resolved 
through modifications.

4. Who decides what is discussed at the Inquiry and what is not?

The rules governing what can be discussed at the Inquiry are 
set out in Government Circulars and are the same throughout 
Scotland. Only people who submitted objections to the Plan 
during one of the formal consultation periods can have their
views considered at the Inquiry. Depending on which type of 
method the objectors choose, the Inquiry format can either 
be quite formal, with legal representatives or agents 
questioning each other, or more like a round-table discussion 
chaired by the Reporter.

5. What happened at the Pre-Inquiry Meeting?

The purpose of this meeting, held on 16 March, 2009 near 
Aviemore, was to discuss the provisional timetable and other 
procedural arrangements for the Inquiry. The meeting was 
chaired by the Reporters and the main parties attending were 
objectors, the National Park Authority and any interested
members of the public. Dates were set for submission of 
important documents. Nothing was discussed that related to 
the content of the Local Plan or to any particular objection. 

A note of the meeting was prepared by the Reporters and was 
available on the CNPA website as soon as possible after the meeting.

6. How many people have objected to the Plan?

A total of 176 people objected to the Plan and they raised 
over 620 objections. It is important to remember that very many 
more people have been involved in helping to prepare the Plan 
and that some have either removed their objections at an earlier
stage or have never commented formally.

7. Who objected to the Plan and why?

People who objected to the current draft of the Local Plan 
come from a range of backgrounds and include land-owners, 
building companies, local community representatives, 
non-governmental organisations and individuals. 

A full list of objectors, and why they objected, is on 
the CNPA website.

8. When did the Inquiry start and finish and where was it held?

The Inquiry, which was conducted by Scottish Government 
Reporters Mr Hugh Begg and Mrs Jill Moody, began on 
18 May 2009 in Aviemore and finished on Thursday 
4 June 2009. Sessions of the Inquiry were held at various 
locations in Aviemore and Ballater.

9. When will the report of the Inquiry be received and what is likely
to be in it?

It is hoped that the final report from the Inquiry will be 
available in several months time. The report will include the
Reporters’ conclusions and recommendation on each matter and 
a list of their proposed modifications to the Plan.

10. If the Reporter finds against the objectors do they have a further
right of appeal?

If further changes to the Plan are proposed by the Park Authority 
then there will be a further chance to comment on those changes. 
Anyone who wants to raise issues about how the Park Authority has 
complied with the Code of Practice for Local Plan Inquiries may 
take up the issue with the Park Authority and then the Local Ombudsman. 
And anyone who wishes to question the validity of the Plan on 
the basis that it does not comply with existing legislation 
may apply to the Court of Session.

11. Who pays for all this?

The costs of preparing the Local Plan, including holding 
the Inquiry and the cost of the Reporters, are borne by the 
National Park Authority which is funded by the
Scottish Government.

12. What happens next? When does new Local Plan come into force?

Once the final report has been received, the National Park 
Authority will decide what action to take. The Park Authority 
is responsible for the final content of the Plan. Any proposed
changes to the Plan will be publicised and a further opportunity
for objection given. Then the Park Authority can take steps to 
formally adopt the Plan. This stage should take place 
early in  2010.

Cairngorms National Park Authority
June 2009