Frequently Asked Questions

For many years the lack of housing has been a major problem for local people; the Local Plan identifies An Camas Mòr as providing for housing needs for 20-25 years.
New housing is required for the projected population growth in the Aviemore area - identified by the Highland Regional Council in 1989 and confirmed in 2001 and again by the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Local people need space for more sports and community facilities.

No, it is included in the Local Plan following a Public Planning Inquiry in 1994 which confirmed the housing need and identified Cambusmore as the most appropriate location for a new settlement.
The Highland Structure Plan, which also supports the development of An Camas Mòr, was approved by Scottish Ministers in 2001, following their decision to create a Cairngorms National Park.
An Camas Mòr also forms part of the Highlands' housing strategy.

During the Local Plan consultation process, chaired by Aviemore and Vicinity Community Council in 1989, the local community expressed a preference for a new site, across the River Spey. This view has been consistently sustained ever since.
Aviemore is constrained by the A9, the railway and the river and has become very elongated.
Cambusmore is close enough to share community facilities with Aviemore and the centre is a 30-minute walk from the mainline railway station.
An Camas Mòr will be designed as a sister community to Aviemore, sharing some of the main infrastructure facilities - Aviemore has the school and health and transport centre, while An Camas Mòr can provide space for sports and other community facilities.
Being planned from the start, it can be designed to accommodate the needs of the area minimising impact on the wider environment.

An Camas Mòr will be:

Responsive to local need - the idea came from the local community and The Highland Council. The Council considered other locations and decided in favour of Cambusmore.
Planned - Aviemore had continued to develop on a piecemeal basis in spite of the earlier belief that it was already large enough. There needs to be a realistic vision of how Aviemore can grow and complement the environment on which it is dependent.
Sustainable - An Camas Mòr provides the opportunity for a carefully planned community to use environmental excellence to care for the natural heritage and meet the everyday needs of the people who live and work in the area.
Inclusive - by working with the community and those who might live there plans will be developed that can provide a wide choice of accommodation ranging from social housing, starter flats and homes to the self build plots that can lead to a balanced community. There will also be space for working from home, workshops and community facilities.

Houses, plus sports, community and business facilities.
It will be built using environmentally sustainable principles having a regular public transfport service from the start.
In the main, all the buildings will be planned to be set within a woodland setting and will relate to tree heights.
It will be well screened from Aviemore by existing woodland and new planting.
There could be foot and cycle routes over the Spey, linking An Camas Mòr with Aviemore, suitable for pedestrians and cyclists.
The centre of An Camas Mòr could be within a 20-minute walk of Aviemore railway station.
The team will continue working with the community over the planning process to influence the eventual shape of the settlement.

It will be designed to appeal to a wide range of local people of all ages and interests, as well as people who wish to join the community.
The Highland Council policy is that at least 25% of the housing will be 'affordable' and it is believed that the Cairngorms National Park Authority will be proposing policies that can ensure that 40% will be specifically for full time occupation for all time.

Public policy supports a phased approach, over 25 years beginning after 2005.
Depending on continuing feasibility studies, an initial application for outline planning permission will be lodged in 2009.
Current advice suggests that houses will be needed from 2011.

Rothiemurchus Estate will be working in partnership with many different commercial, conservation and public sector agencies to encourage a truly partnership approach to this development.
Over the past three years, Rothiemurchus Estate has invested in substantial research into wildlife and habitat, access, housing, land use, engineering, archaeological and landscaping issues.
Advisory work is now continuing so that the needs of local wildlife can be incorporated in the layout and design of the village and in the management of the surrounding land.