New Highland village go-ahead

authority backs plan for 1,500 homes in cairngorms national park

By Iain Ramage

Published:

Plans to create a new village in the Highlands were backed last night by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

The government agency’s planning committee has approved proposals – in principle – for the construction of as many as 1,500 homes on a site within the vast park.

Meeting at Boat of Garten community hall, members supported the project planned for An Camas Mor on the edge of Aviemore.

Described as one of the biggest developments within the park in a generation, it had already been accepted as part of the Scottish Government’s Sustainable Communities Initiative. Park officials said it would be “an exemplar community for sustainability in terms of the environment, socially, the economy, mobility, and resources management.”

The development, proposed by a consortium led by local Rothiemurchus Estate laird Johnny Grant, is the largest and most complex application to go before the park authority and the only proposal for a new community in any UK national park. It is expected to take 20 years to complete. There was an element of disagreement over the number of homes involved. Planning officers had recommended an 1,100 limit. A 10-9 vote permitted the 1,500 applied for, although a review will be carried out when the development reaches 630 units.

Committee member and local councillor Gregor Rimell said: “I am satisfied that the right number will be reached as we pass each review point.”

But Gus Jones, of the Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group said: “This is sad news. It didn’t even follow a recommendation for a reduction to 1,100 homes.

“It shows disregard to principles about conserving biodiversity including principles that they had previously adopted in relation to this very major application.”

The delighted applicant, Mr Grant, said he was keen to hear from people who had shown an interest in living at An Camas Mor.

Confident the project would help tackle a shortage of “affordable” homes in the area, Aviemore Community Council chairman John Grierson said: “We’re delighted the development is going ahead. It’s also a good opportunity to attract new jobs and businesses into the area.” Extensive conditions attached to the approval include a stipulation that the applicant submits a landscape and ecology plan before the full masterplan for the site is submitted and that more substantial areas of woodland and habitats are either retained or created.

The development will be on land to the east of the River Spey, close to Coylumbridge.

The planning committee meeting lasted all day and many objectors attended to make their feelings heard.

Objector John Davison, of nearby Drumuillie, near Boat of Garten, said last night: “I do not think that the park authority should be building a town in what is a national park. I know of no other park in England or Scotland that contemplate building a new town like this.”