Supporting documents
Part of:
The next Local Development Plan
Scottish Government documents
National Planning Framework 4 - a link to Scottish Government's long term plan for Scotland, which sets out where development and infrastructure is needed. Alongside local development plans, National Planning Framework 4 forms the 'Statutory Development Plan' for every place in Scotland.
Click here to access National Planning Framework 4
Local Development Planning Guidance - a link to Scottish Government's guidance on the preparation of Local Development Plans.
Click here to access Local Development Planning Guidance
National Park Authority documents
Policy
National Park Partnership Plan 2022 - a link to the Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan. The Partnership Plan provides strategic direction for the Local Development Plan.
Click here to access the National Park Partnership Plan
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan 2021 - a link to the adopted Local Development Plan for the Cairngorms National Park. This plan will be replaced once the next local development plan is adopted.
Click here to access the Local Development Plan 2021
Development plan schemes
Every local planning authority in Scotland must produce an annual Development Plan Scheme. The Development Plan Scheme is an important communications tool. It is key to supporting deliverable and people-focussed plans by letting stakeholders know when and how they can get involved in the preparation of the next Local Development Plan and keeping them informed of progress. The Development Plan Scheme for the Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan:
- Outlines how planning in the National Park works.
- Highlights changes to the Development Plan system that will determine how the next LDP will be prepared and used.
- Provides details on the processes and timescales for the preparation of the next Local Development Plan.
- Includes a Participation Statement that sets out how and when engagement and public consultation will take place in the preparation of the next Local Development Plan.
- Contains an invitation for communities to prepare local place plans.
Development Plan Scheme 2025 - downloadable version of the latest Development Plan Scheme, which sets out the latest timetable for the next Local Development Plan.
Click here to download Development Plan Scheme 2025 pdf
Development Plan Scheme 2024 - downloadable version of the latest Development Plan Scheme, which sets out the timetable for the next Local Development Plan.
Click here to download Development Plan Scheme 2024 pdf
Development Plan Scheme 2023 - downloadable version of the first Development Plan Scheme, which set out the timetable for the next Local Development Plan. It has now been superseded by the 2024 Development Plan Scheme.
Click here to download Development Plan Scheme 2023 pdf
Community action plans and local place plans
Community Action Plans - information about community action planning in the Cairngorms National Park and links to downloadable versions of the latest community action plans.
Click here to access information about community action planning
Local Place Plans - information about preparing local place plans in the Cairngorms National Park.
Click here to access information about preparing local place plans
Evidence Report and gatecheck
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan Evidence Report - the Evidence Report is the first stage in the preparation of the next Local Development Plan. It reflects the initial stage of information and evidence gathering, shaped by early consultation and stakeholder engagement. The Evidence Report was approved by the Park Authority Board on 13 March 2026. Following approval the Evidence Report was submitted to the Scottish Ministers for its gatecheck review to assess the sufficiency of the evidence to prepare the next Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan. Links to downloadable versions of the Evidence Report and its topic based schedules are provide below.
Evidence Report: Introduction pdf
Schedule 2: Policy monitoring pdf
Schedule 3: Site assessment methodology pdf
Schedule 4: Climate change pdf
Schedule 5: Natural heritage pdf
Schedule 7: Historic and cultural heritage pdf
Schedule 8: Land use, soil and resources pdf
Schedule 11: Sustainable transport pdf
Schedule 12: Living locally and 20 minute neighbourhoods pdf
Schedule 15: Heating and cooling pdf
Schedule 16: Blue and green infrastructure pdf
Schedule 17: Play, recreation and sport pdf
Schedule 18: Health and safety pdf
Schedule 19: Flood risk and water management pdf
Schedule 20: Digital infrastructure pdf
Schedule 21: Economic development pdf
Schedule 22: Town centres and retail pdf
National Park Authority Board meeting - 13 March 2026 - a link to the agenda and board paper for the Evidence Report and a recording of the meeting.
Click here to access the National Park Authority Board meeting - 13 March 2026
Approved minutes of the Park Authority Board meeting - 13 March 2026 - a link to a downloadable version of the minutes of the board meeting of 13 March 2026.
Click here to download approved minutes for the Park Authority Board meeting 13 March 2026 pdf
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan - Evidence Report Gatecheck Review - a link to Scottish Government's webpage for its gatecheck review.
Click here to access the gatecheck review website
Statutory assessments
Strategic Environment Assessment Scoping Report August 2025 - downloadable version of the Strategic Environment Assessment Scoping Report for the next Cairngorms National Park local development plan.
Click here to download Strategic Environment Assessment Scoping Report pdf
Equality and Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment June 2023 - downloadable version of the equality and fairer Scotland impact assessment focuses on the potential impact of the Local Development Plan in relation to the National Park’s communities, residents and visitors, as well as stakeholders, investors and the business community.
Click here to download Equality and Fairer Scotland Impact Assessment pdf
Strategic Flood Risk Assessment 2024 - downloadable version of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for the Local Development Plan. The primary aims of the strategic flood risk assessment are to ensure that future development is directed wherever possible towards areas of little or no flood risk and to ensure that new development does not increase flood risk elsewhere.
Click here to download Strategic Flood Risk Assessment pdf
Supporting evidence
Background paper: Statistical areas used in the analysis of the Cairngorms National Park - downloadable version of a background paper that provides information on how small area geographies are used to form an aggregate of the Cairngorms National Park for the purposes of statistical analysis.
Click here to download Statistical areas used in the analysis of the Cairngorms National Park pdf
Cairngorms National Park Authority interactive local living map 2025 - a link to the the Park Authority's analysis of accessibility to local living facilities, created to help understand what local living and 20 minute neighbourhoods are and to provide a consistent baseline for local living analysis.
Click here to access the interactive local living map
Cairngorms National Park Play Sufficiency Assessment 2025 - downloadable version of the Play Sufficiency Assessment, which considers the quality and availability of equipped areas of play and play parks such as pump tracks and multi-use games areas.
Click here to download the Play Sufficiency Assessment pdf
Town Centre Health Check 2023 - downloadable version of the town centre health checks carried out in 2023 to support the preparation of the local development plan.
Click here to download Town Centre Health Check pdf
Village Centre Health Check 2025 - downloadable version of the village centre health checks carried out in 2025 to support the preparation of the local development plan.
Click here to download Village Centre Health Check pdf
Employment land audit 2025 - downloadable version of the employment land audit carried out in 2025 to support the preparation of the local development plan.
Click here to download employment land audit pdf
Identifying fragile rural areas in the Cairngorms National Park 2025 - downloadable version of a report on identifying fragile rural areas, which supports the preparation of the local development plan.
Click here to download Identifying fragile rural areas pdf
Identifying a Cairngorms National Park Nature Network 2025 - downloadable version of a report on the approach to identifying nature networks in the Cairngorms National Park.
Click here to download Identifying a Cairngorms National Park Nature Network pdf
Engagement reports
Cairngorms Local Development Plan Interactive Map Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the map-based engagement exercise carried out by the Park Authority in 2023 to help inform the Evidence Report.
Click here to download the Interactive Map Engagement Report 2024 pdf
Cairngorms National Park Gypsy / Traveller Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out by Conyach on behalf of the Park Authority to help identify Gypsy / Traveller needs.
Click here to download Gypsy / Traveller Engagement Report pdf
Grantown Grammar School Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with pupils at Grantown Grammar School.
Click here to download Grantown Grammar School Place Standard Tool Engagement Report pdf
Kingussie High School S1 Geography Students Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with pupils at Kingussie High School.
Kingussie High School S3 Geography Students Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with pupils at Kingussie High School.
Kingussie High School Higher Criminology Students Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with pupils at Kingussie High School.
Kingussie High School Youth Forum Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2025 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with pupils at Kingussie High School.
Click here to download Kingussie High School Youth Forum Place Standard Tool Engagement Report pdf
Aviemore Neurodiversity Support Youth Group Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2025 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with members of the Aviemore Neurodiversity Support Youth Group.
Cairngorms Youth Action Team Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with members of the Cairngorms Youth Action Team.
Click here to download Cairngorms Youth Action Team Place Standard Tool Engagement Report pdf
Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2025 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with members of the Cairngorms National Park Junior Rangers.
Kingussie Community Roadshow Event Report 2024 - downloadable version of the report on the public engagement exercise carried out in Kingussie in October 2024.
Click here to download Kingussie Community Roadshow Event Report 2024 pdf
Badenoch and Strathspey Access Forum Place Standard Tool Engagement Report 2025 - downloadable version of the report on the engagement exercise carried out with the Badenoch and Strathspey Access Forum in February 2024.
Cairngorms National Park Local Development Plan engagement - gamification approach 2025 - a report on the outcome of the Planning Power game with members of the public in Aviemore. Planning Power is a gamified data collection tool used to gather the insights, suggestions as well as the understanding of policies within National Planning Framework 4, the National Park Partnership Plan and their implications for the Local Development Plan.
Local Development Plan engagement – Planning Power with Cairngorms 2030 - a report on the outcome of the Planning Power game with Cairngorms 2030 staff. Planning Power is a gamified data collection tool used to gather the insights, suggestions as well as the understanding of policies within National Planning Framework 4, the National Park Partnership Plan and their implications for the Local Development Plan.
Click here to download Local Development Plan engagement – Planning Power with Cairngorms 2030 pdf
Evidence Report Engagement Responses - a downloadable version of the record of contributions to engagement on the Evidence Report.
Click here to download Evidence Report Engagement Responses pdf
