Hold up to new town planned by Aviemore described as 'sensible'
A hold-up on the masterplan to create a new town near Aviemore has been described as "sensible" by Cairngorms National Park planners.
The blueprint for An Camus Mor was lodged in early June but a crucial component of the project, the recreational management plan, has still to be submitted to the park authority.
The developers plan to build up to 1,500 new homes on the site on Rothiemurchus over the River Spey from Aviemore over the next 25 to 30 years.
Mr Johnnie Grant, of developers An Camas Mòr Ltd, said: "Everyone was very keen for the implementation masterplan and landscape and ecology method statement for An Camas Mòr to be submitted as quickly as possible with the recreational management plan to follow as a separate application.
"However, this has taken time and it is clear that it would be better to resubmit all the information together. The current application has been already been withdrawn.
"With the holiday period submission is likely to take a few weeks."
The CNPA confirmed to the "Strathy" that the masterplan had been withdrawn for now.
The spokesperson said: "Following the granting of planning permission in principle for the new community in March this year, An Camas Mòr LLP submitted an application for a masterplan for the development which the CNPA called in for consideration in June.
"An Camas Mòr LLP has recently withdrawn their masterplan application with the intention of re-submitting it alongside a recreation management plan, which is a sensible way forward.
"We look forward to considering both the masterplan and recreational management plan in due course."
The Badenoch and Strathspey Conservation Group (BSCG), the Cairngorm Campaign and the Scottish Campaign for National Parks are challenging the land allocation for An Camas Mor in the courts.
BSCG spokesman Gus Jones said he was not surprised the blueprint had been withdrawn.
He commented: "The Masterplan is desperately ill-thought through. It is hopelessly incomplete and conspicuously out of date. It left unanswered fundamental questions about widening the B970 back road, dealing with sewage and managing public access."
The masterplan details the principles guiding the construction of the new community which could eventually become home to up to 4,000 people.
The CNPA is still to pass judgment on the main road connections, lighting and communal utilities which will be involved in the massive project, which would be built over a number of phases.
The full masterplan application is expected to be lodged with the park planners within the next few weeks.
Elgin-based Springfield Properties PLC withdrew from the project earlier this year after being involved with the long-running project for the past three years, citing commercial reasons for their decision.
They had been lined up to construct the first 200 houses – including 80 affordable homes – for the new town.