On who's authority: An assessment of stakeholder perceptions of the environmental, social and economic benefits and disbenefits of the proposed planning arrangements for the Cairngorms National Park

The process of establishing Scotland's second National Park, the Cairngorms National Park, is well underway. On the 29th May 2002, the Draft Designation Order was published outlining the boundary, powers and functions for public consultation. Preceding this, Scottish Natural Heritage had, as the Government's natural heritage adviser, carried out a consultation exercise on the initial proposals for a National Park in the Cairngorms. During this period, a large-scale national and international debate emerged over the Scottish Executive's preferred arrangement for the planning functions for the Cairngorms National Park. The Scottish Ministers clearly preferred that Town and Country Planning functions, as defined by the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, should remain with the Local Authorities of the area, and not with any National Park Authority. In addition, the reporter advised that the Authority have an equal role in creating a development plan, not complete discretion. Such an arrangement would be unique amongst the United Kingdom's other National Parks. As such, the Minister's preference has generated a high degree of contention amongst the Scottish Parliament, Executive Agencies such as Scottish Natural Heritage and the Enterprise Companies, non-Governmental organisations and other conservation and interest groups in Scotland and beyond.