Individuals, groups or organisations have until 23 July 2010 to have their say on post inquiry modifications to the Cairngorms National Park Local Plan.

The Local Plan will set out detailed planning policies to guide development in the Park over the coming years and all planning applications within the Park will need to relate to it.

The Cairngorms National Park Local Plan will be the first for a Scottish National Park and will replace the current local plans covering the four local authority areas within the Park: Aberdeenshire, Angus, Highland and Moray.

It was the subject of a Local Plan Inquiry in May 2009, with the Scottish Government Reporters’ recommendations received by the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) in December the same year.

Modifications have been made to the Local Plan following the Reporters’ recommendations and a public consultation on these modifications began in May 2010. This public consultation ends on 23 July 2010 after which responses will be considered.

If there is no requirement to hold a second inquiry, the CNPA board will formally adopt the Local Plan later this year.

Along with the Local Plan, the CNPA has produced supplementary planning guidance which expands on the detail of some of the policies in the Local Plan as well as providing additional information and guidance. Some of this guidance is also open to public consultation which ends on 24 September 2010.

Details of the modifications to the Local Plan as well as Supplementary Planning Guidance and comment forms are available on our website or by contacting the CNPA offices in Grantown-on-Spey or Ballater.

Further information is available from the Cairngorms National Park Authority Planning Office, Albert Memorial Hall, Station Square, Ballater, AB35 5QB. Tel: 013397 53601 or by email.