Controversial plans for a new settlement near Aviemore have been approved in principle, for a second time, as campaigners prepare a legal challenge in the UK Supreme Court against it.
The Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA ) first approved Rothiemurchus Estate's proposal to build new eco-friendly village An Camas Mòr in 2010, which would see up to 1500 houses over the next 20 years.
It repeated the process yesterday in light of new information that emerged in the course of two unsuccessful legal challenges by environmental campaigners to An Camas Mòr. They also oppose 117 new homes planned for the village of Carrbridge, 300 at Kingussie and 40 at Nethy Bridge.
The Badenoch & Strathspey Conservation Group, the Cairngorms Campaign and the Scottish Campaign for National Parks have now resolved to take their case to the UK Supreme Court. But yesterday the park authority again backed An Camas Mòr.
Eleanor Mackintosh, the CNPA's planning convener, welcomed the progress. "One of the challenges facing the park is the need to provide housing and employment opportunities for future generations in a way that also looks after and supports the wildlife and landscapes that the park is known and loved for."
She said An Camas Mòr would help to meet the needs of a growing population over the next 30 years in a sustainable way and would create a high quality place for living and working in the largest national park in the land.
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