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FRONT PAGE

Cairngorms National Park Local Plan first modifications 
Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report Appendix 1 

Cairngorms National Park Local Plan 
First Modifications 

Strategic Environmental Assessment Environmental Report 

Appendix 1 

Checklist of relevant plans and programmes and their environmental 
objectives 


PAGE 2

Other relevant plans/programmes and relevant environmental objectives: 

Relevant LP Policy  / comments 

Cairngorms National Park Plan Strategic Objectives (also subject to SEA) 

Strategic 
Objectives for 
Landscape, Built 
and Historic 
Environment: 

a) Maintain and enhance the distinctive 
landscapes across the Park. 
3,7 

b) Conserve and enhance the sense of 
wildness in the montane area and other 
parts of the Park. 
7 

c) Ensure development complements and 
enhances the landscape character of the 
Park 
7 

d) New development in settlements and 
surrounding areas and the management of 
public spaces should complement and 
enhance the character, pattern and local 
identity of the built and historic 
environment 
7,17,18 

e) Understand and conserve the 
archaeological record, historic landscapes 
and historic built environment. 
7,8,9,10, 11,12 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Biodiversity: 

a) Conserve and enhance the condition and 
diversity of habitats and species present 
throughout the Park through a landscape-
scale approach to habitat networks. 
2,3,4,5,6, 

b) Ensure all designated nature conservation 
sites are in favourable condition. 
2,3,4 

c) Engage all sectors in meeting or exceeding 
international, national and local biodiversity 
targets. 
2,3,4,5,6 

d) Improve the long-term sustainability and 
restore the full range of montane habitats 
through managing pressures from grazing, 
other land management, recreation and 
development. 
2,3,4,5,6 

e) Ensure that populations of species given 
special protection under the Habitat 
Regulations, the Wildlife and Countryside 
Act, the Nature Conservation Act and 
European Directives are stable or, where 
appropriate, increasing. 
5 

g) Identify, prioritise and take action to 
address non-native species that pose a 
threat to the natural heritage and land 
management of the Park. 

h) Promote appropriate reintroduction of 
species and reinstatement of habitats and 
identify the likely ecological, economic and 
management impacts. 


PAGE 3

Strategic 
Objectives for 
Geodiversity: 

a) Safeguard the geological and 
geomorphological features and associated 
processes that contribute to the landscape 
of the Park. 
4,14 

c) Prevent degradation and erosion of soils, 
particularly vulnerable montane and 
organic soils. 
14 

d) Safeguard against large-scale extraction 
and removal of mineral resource from the 
National Park. 
14 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Culture and 
Traditions: 

b) Support and promote the diverse cultural 
traditions of communities within the Park. 
12 


Strategic Objective 
for Sustainable 
Use of Resources: 

a) All management and development in the 
Park should seek to make the most 
sustainable use of natural resources, 
including water and energy. 
13,14,15,16 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
energy: 

a) Contribute to national targets for greater 
renewable production through increasing 
community, business and domestic-scale 
renewable energy schemes. 
16 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Water: 

a) Maintain or where necessary enhance the 
existing high water quality and physical 
condition of waterbodies in the Park 
13 

b) Adopt a catchment-scale approach to 
water management that integrates land-
use, nature conservation and flood 
management. 
13 

c) Encourage more sustainable patterns of 
domestic, industrial, agricultural and 
recreational water use. 
13,18 

d) Promote sustainable flood management 
consistent with natural fluvial processes. 
13 


Strategic 
Objectives for Air: 

a) Maintain, and where possible enhance, the 
existing high level of air quality. 
18, 19 

b) Retain dark night skies and minimise light 
and noise pollution. 
7,18 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Forest and 
Woodland 
Management: 

a) Promote multi-objective forest and 
woodland management that delivers 
environmental, economic and social 
benefits 

b) Enhance the condition of existing 
woodland cover and expand to develop 
habitat networks that complement the 
landscape character and other land-uses. 

c) Encourage a full range of forest 
ecosystems from valley floor to natural 
altitudinal tree-line in targeted areas and 
the re-development of woodland types that 
have declined. 

g) Contribute to national efforts to address 
climate change. 
18,19 


PAGE 4

Strategic 
Objectives for 
Moorland 
Management: 

a) Enhance moorlands as a high value and 
sustainable resource for nature 
conservation, sport, agriculture, landscape 
and recreation. 

b) Demonstrate and enhance the delivery of 
biodiversity targets by moorland 
management. 

c) Manage the interaction of moorlands with 
surrounding land-uses to maintain and 
enhance the integrity of the moorland 
landscape, ecosystems, key habitat 
networks and hydrology. 


Strategic 
Objectives for Deer 
Management: 

a) Manage deer populations at densities 
consistent with maintaining and enhancing 
the special natural heritage qualities of the 
Park, particularly native woodland, 
montane and moorland habitats. 

e) Where deer fencing is considered 
appropriate, minimise the impacts on 
public safety, deer welfare, biodiversity, 
landscape, cultural heritage and 
recreation. 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Fisheries 
Management: 

a) Encourage co-ordination of fisheries 
management at river system and 
catchment level. 

b) Encourage removal and minimisation of 
artificial barriers that impede passage of 
fish and affect river flow. 
13 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Sustainable 
Communities: 

a) Encourage a population level and mix in 
the Park that meets the current and future 
needs of its communities and businesses. 
Housing land allocations, policies 21 

b) Make proactive provision to focus 
settlement growth in the main settlements 
and plan for growth to meet community 
needs in other settlements. 
Housing land allocations 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Housing: 

a) Increase the accessibility of rented and 
owned housing to meet the needs of 
communities throughout the Park. 
21 

c) Improve the physical quality, energy 
efficiency and sustainable design of 
housing in all tenures throughout the Park. 
18,19 

d) Ensure there is effective land and 
investment for market and affordable 
housing to meet the economic and social 
needs of communities throughout the Park. 
Housing land allocations & housing policies 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Transport and 
Communications: 

c) Ensure transport and communications 
infrastructure is managed and developed 
in ways consistent with the special 
qualities of the Park. 
18,30,31 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Waste Management:

a) Minimise waste and encourage better 
waste management through community 
and domestic-scale recycling facilities. 
18,32 

c) Reduce litter in the Park. 



PAGE 5

Strategic 
Objectives for 
Sustainable 
Tourism: 

c) Maintain a high quality environment by 
encouraging sound environmental 
management by all those involved in 
tourism in the Park. 

h) Encourage an optimum flow and spread of 
visitors across the Park and minimise 
social and environmental impact including 
traffic generated by visitors and conflicts 
between different forms of recreation. 


Strategic 
Objectives for 
Outdoor Access 
and Recreation: 

b) Promote high standards of responsible 
enjoyment of the Park so that its special 
qualities are understood and appreciated, 
safeguarded now and for future 
generations to enjoy and the interests of 
others are respected. 

g) Protect the more fragile areas of the Park 
from pressures arising from outdoor 
access and recreation. 
34 



EC Directive on the 
Conservation of Wild 
Birds 79/409/EEC 
1979 

Requires Member States to sustain populations of 
naturally occurring wild birds by sustaining areas of 
habitats to maintain ecologically and scientifically 
sound levels. 
2,5 


EC Directive on the 
Conservation of 
Natural Habitats and 
of Wild Fauna and 
Flora 92/43/EEC 
1992 

Requires Member States to sustain pollutions of 
naturally occurring flora & fauna by sustaining areas 
of habitats to maintain ecologically and scientifically 
sound levels. 
2,5 


Directive 2000/60/EC 
The Water 
Framework Directive 

Requires Member States to achieve good ecological 
status of inland water bodies. 
13 


Directive 1966/62/EC 
on ambient air quality 
and management 

Establishes standards for air quality and sets limits 
for various pollutants. 
18 


Nature Conservation 
Act (Scotland) 2004 

Biodiversity, revision of SSSIs, crime prevention. 
3,4,5,6 


Climate Change; the 
UK Programme 

Aims to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 60% by 
2050. 
18,19 


Choosing our Future: 
Scotland’s 
sustainable 
development strategy 
(2005) 

Sets out Scotland’s approach to delivering more 
sustainable development, and the challenges faced 
in achieving this. 
Whole plan 


Air Quality Strategy 
for England, 
Scotland, Wales & 
NI: Working Together 
for Clean Air. 

Set out objectives for 8 main air pollutants to protect 
health. 
18 


Structure Plans 

The Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Angus 
Council Structure Plan’s set out the strategic 
framework for an authority area. 
Whole plan, 
particularly 
housing 


Community Plans 

The Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Angus 
Council Community Plan’s, which set out how public 
services will be planned and delivered, through 
consultation and co-operation (among all public 
bodies, and with community bodies). 
Whole plan, 
particularly 
housing 


PAGE 6

River Spey Management Plan 

3.1 
Maintain the high water quality standards in the Spey and 
determine the ecological requirements and tolerance limits of freshwater 
pearl mussel and sea lamprey 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

3.6 
Determine the extent of the problem of contaminated land within 
the Spey catchment and restore any such areas to beneficial use. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

4.1
 Identify ‘Flood Risk’ areas in Local Authority Development Plans, 
with appropriate policies for controlling development and mitigating impact. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

6.1 
Conserve and enhance the Atlantic salmon, sea lamprey, 
freshwater pearl mussel and otter populations of the River Spey and its 
catchment. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

6.2 
Conserve and enhance the fragmented and endangered water 
vole populations of the River Spey catchment based on an improved 
understanding of their distribution. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

6.3 
Conserve and enhance the riverine bird populations of the River 
Spey and its catchment based on an improved understanding of their 
distribution. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

6.5 
Conserve and enhance the specialist river shingle invertebrate 
populations of the River Spey catchment based on an improved 
understanding of their distribution. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

8.2 
Consider the potential for floodplain or riparian woodlands to 
contribute towards flood control, river bank stabilisation and assist with 
water quality management. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

8.3 
Conserve and enhance scarce or threatened tree species 
associated with the river system. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

9.2
 Improve the adequacy of private water supply and wastewater 
facilities to meet existing demand and comply with existing consent. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

9.3 
Prevent pollution from new developments at both construction 
and operational stages. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

9.5 
Prevent pollution or obstructions from significant structural works 
across the river or from ongoing maintenance and repair works nearby. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

9.6 
Mitigate the impact of higher numbers of visitors on both water 
supply and wastewater systems and also on the natural heritage and 
fisheries of the river system. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

9.7 
Safeguard the quality and quantity of water in the sub-
catchments of private distillery supplies and consider any positive 
application of heated water. 
2,3,4,5,6,13 

River Dee 
Catchment 
Management Plan 

Similar objectives to River Spey Plan. 


Cairngorms Local 
Biodiversity Action 
Plan Project 

The Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan 
Project (or LBAP) is a long-term initiative that seeks 
to initiate actions for biodiversity across the whole 
Cairngorms area and raise the awareness of 
protecting, enhancing and appreciating the 
biodiversity of the Park area. 
6 


Local Housing 
Strategy 

The Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Angus 
Council Local Housing Strategies (and Delivery 
Plans). The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 requires 
local authorities to undertake a comprehensive 
assessment of housing needs and conditions, and 
to produce strategies to tackle the housing 
problems in their areas. Communities Scotland 
assess these local housing strategies (LHS) on 
behalf of Scottish Ministers. 
Housing land allocations and housing policies 


Local Transport 
Strategy 

The Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Angus 
Council Local Transport Strategies set-out how to 
maintain and improve infrastructure. 
30 


Area Waste Plans 

The Highland Moray Aberdeenshire and Angus 
32 


PAGE 7

Council Area Waste Plans will set out a strategy for 
waste management, minimisation and 
recycling/composting. 


Economic 
Development 
Strategies 

The Highland, Moray, Aberdeenshire and Angus 
Council economic development strategies, as well 
as those developed by the Local Enterprise 
Companies (Scottish Enterprise Grampian, 
Inverness Nairn Badenoch &Strathspey Enterprise, 
Scottish Enterprise Tayside). 
Whole plan, but particularly 
policies 27,28,33 and site allocations 


CNPA Sustainable 
Tourism Strategy 

A strategy to lead and co-ordinate the sustainable 
development and management of tourism. 
33 



Scottish Planning Policy (SPPs)/ National Planning Policy Guideline (NPPG) 

SPP/NPPG   /  Expectations; are there policies in the Local Plan which cover the following:  / Relevant L P Policy  / comments 

SPP 1 Planning 
system (2002) 

Promote regeneration, full and appropriate use of 
land, buildings and infrastructure 

Promote use of previously developed land and 
minimise greenfield development 

Conserve important historic and cultural assets 

Protect and enhance areas for recreation and 
natural heritage 

Support better access by foot bicycle and public 
transport 

Encourage energy efficiency through layout and 
design of development 

Encourage prudent use of natural resources 
Require good design 

Encourage improvement of the physical 
environment 
Whole plan, 


SPP2 Economic 
development (2002) 

Identify supporting action eg for environmental 
improvement that can assist the delivery of 
economic development 
27,28,33 


SPP 3 Planning for 
Housing (2003) 

Re-use vacant or cleared land in urban areas. 
Housing land allocations and policies 

Specify the standards and criteria against which the 
development of gap, garden or other infill sites will 
be judged. 
18 

Specify those areas where regeneration and 
environmental improvement is to be given priority. 

Define any areas of the countryside where isolated 
sporadic or small groups of houses in the 
countryside will be allowed; set out the criteria 
against which proposals for individual houses within 
these areas will be judged. 
22,23,24 

Provide for the conversion and re-use of buildings 
including redundant farm buildings. 
29 



PAGE 8

Clearly define areas including green belts where 
new housing will not normally be allowed. 

The protective policies of the 
plan provide the tests for 
whether or not housing 
development would be 
permitted. 

Protect valuable urban open space, particularly 
playing fields. 
36 

Guide the design of new housing proposals, 
including where appropriate the preparation of 
planning briefs, particularly in relation to new 
settlements. 
18, settlement land 
allocations, and 
development of a 
sustainable design guide 


SPP 4 Planning for 
Minerals (2006) 

Define sites or areas of search, where mineral 
working would be favoured. 
1-14 

Define sites or areas where environmental 
considerations are likely to militate against mineral 
working. 
1-14 

Ameliorate significant environmental effects for 
proposed mineral developments. 
1-14 

Promote reclamation of sites to beneficial after-use. 
14 

Facilitate recycling and re-use of material in waste 
tips and construction wastes where environmentally 
acceptable. 
14 

Include criteria for testing planning applications in 
respect of pollution, nature conservation, landscape, 
cultural heritage and built up areas. 
1-14 


NPPG 5 Archaeology 
(1994) 

Require the protection, preservation and, where 
appropriate, enhancement of all nationally important 
sites of archaeological interest and their settings; 
and also for other unscheduled remains and their 
settings identified as particularly worthy of 
preservation. 
9 

Require the protection and where appropriate the 
enhancement of landscapes of historic importance 
including historic gardens and designed 
landscapes, and their settings. 
7,9 

Require the excavation and recording of sites where 
the primary aim of preservation has not been 
achieved. 
9 


SPP 6 Renewable 
Energy (2007) 

Support Scottish Minister's commitment to 
renewable energy and provide positively for its 
development 
1-16 

Define broad areas of search suitable for wind and 
other renewable energy developments or, where 
appropriate, specific sites. 

Safeguard, where appropriate, areas with potential 
for renewable energy. 

Indicate whether there are areas or sites where, for 
overriding environmental reasons, proposals for 
renewable energy development would only be 
considered in exceptional circumstances. 

Guide developers on the broad criteria they would 
be required to consider in any development 
proposal, including those falling outwith preferred 
areas. 


SPP 7 Flooding 
(2004) 

Indicate where a degree of flood risk exists. 
13 & land allocations 



PAGE 9

Define areas where development is unlikely to be 
acceptable and areas where flood threat can be 
managed 
13 & land 
allocations 


NPPG 8 Town 
Centres and 
Retailing (1998) 

Promote the environmental improvement of town 
and other centres and retail and commercial leisure 
developments, 
17 

Provide criteria for testing new developments 
outwith the framework of preferred sites and 
indicate how such developments will be assessed 
including environmental and design criteria. 


NPPG 10 Waste 
Management (1996) 

Encourage development which assists in the 
reduction, re-use and recovery of waste for example 
through the re-use of buildings wherever practicable 
13,15,18 

Provide facilities as close as is reasonable to the 
source of waste production, taking into account the 
safeguarding of the natural and built environment. 

Require provision of recycling facilities at new 
superstores and provide for other civic amenity sites 

Provide guidance on appropriate locations for 
differing waste management facilities including 
special and clinical wastes and wastewater 
treatment plants. 

Provide standards for landfill site restoration, 
aftercare and after-use and the proper landscaping 
of all waste sites. 

Identify closed landfills, whether they require further 
treatment and specify appropriate after-uses. 

Protect groundwater 


NPPG 11 Sport 
Physical Recreation 
and Open Space 
(1996) 

Protect and enhance parks and open spaces and 
other land of recreational, amenity or wildlife value. 
34,36 

Identify public access routes, referring to other 
publications if appropriate, state the statutory 
position and indicate where the network requires to 
be augmented. 
Policies 34 & 36 are relevant 
but the CNPA is also the 
Access Authority for the 
Park and is developing a 
Core Path Plan and has an 
Outdoor Access Strategy

Safeguard and improve public access to open 
space and to the countryside, especially Green 
Belts and promote new or replacement routes. 

Promote planting of new woodlands for recreation, 
landscape and nature conservation benefits. 
18 

Safeguard nature conservation and cultural heritage 
designations and the character of the landscape 
from effects of sporting or recreational 
developments including the effects of increased 
traffic in rural areas. 
1-9,12,13, 35,36 


NPPG 12 Skiing 
(1997) [where 
relevant] 

Set out criteria against which new ski and 
associated developments will be considered 
including environmental criteria 
35 


NPPG 14 Natural 
heritage (1999) 
Protection and, where appropriate, enhancement of 
internationally, nationally and locally designated 
areas and sites (including potential SPAs and 
SACs). 
1-7 

Indicate the criteria against which a development 
affecting a natural heritage designation will be 
assessed. 
1-7 


PAGE 10

Encourage the management and safeguard of 
features of the landscape of major importance for 
nature conservation or amenity, including field 
boundaries, woodlands, trees, lochs, ponds, 
watercourses and other wetlands 
1-7 

Include policies for the conservation and/or 
enhancement of landscape character, including, 
where appropriate, wild land character. 
7 

Make appropriate provision for Local Nature 
Reserves and the protection and enhancement of 
open space of natural heritage value. 
4,6,36 

Identify opportunities to extend native woodland 
cover and to maintain and enhance wetlands. 
6 

Provide for the conservation of biodiversity and the 
protection and enhancement of the natural heritage 
outwith designated areas. 
6 


SPP 15 Rural 
development (2005) 

Identify opportunities for re-use/conversion of 
agricultural buildings and set out the criteria against 
which applications for residential and business reuse 
will be assessed. 
29,27 

Identify locations where tourism development could 
lead to environmental improvement and improve 
public enjoyment of the countryside. 


SPP 17 Transport 
(2005) 
Encourage people to make more journeys by 
walking, cycling, and public transport. 
30 
The CNPA is not the 
Transport Authority, but we 
will support the 4 constituent 
Local Authorities in their 
transport programmes. 


NPPG 18 Historic 
environment (1999) 

Define the historic environment and where 
appropriate, its landscape or townscape setting, in 
proposals maps. 
9,10,11,12 

Include policies for the protection, conservation and 
enhancement of the historic environment and its 
setting including listed buildings, conservation 
areas, scheduled monuments and historic gardens 
and designed landscapes. 
9,10,11,12 

Outline criteria that will be applied to development 
proposals within conservation areas, within the 
curtilage of listed buildings and development 
affecting the setting of scheduled monuments, listed 
buildings, conservation areas, historic gardens and 
designed landscapes. 
9,10,11 

Specify criteria that will be applied to proposals for 
alteration, extension, demolition or re-use of listed 
buildings and for unlisted buildings within 
conservation areas. 
9,10,11 

Identify priorities for enhancement programmes, 
including opportunities for regeneration or 
revitalisation. Indicate sites and areas for which 
development briefs, design guides, character 
appraisals and other relevant guidance have been 
prepared. 


NPPG 19 
Telecomms (2001) 

Specify development control criteria for radio 
telecommunications development including siting 
and design matters 
1-14,18, 31 


PAGE 11

SPP 20 Role of 
Architecture + 
Design in Scotland 
(2005) 

18 


A Policy Statement 
for Scotland 
Designing Places 
(2001)