Officials are urging members of the Cairngorms National Park Authority’s planning committee to put their full weight behind Highland Council’s housing division policy to tackle the lack of affordable housing.
Last month the Scottish minister approved the authority’s request for a short-term lettings control zone for the whole of the strath.
It will only be the second such designation in Scotland after the city of Edinburgh which is slightly ahead in the process.
The restrictions – which will require existing short-term operators to apply for change-of-use planning consent to continue operations – are being introduced due to the rise of Airbnb, Booking.com and other platforms.
Demand for real estate in tourism hotspots is pushing prices out of the pocket of local residents.
Highland Council is currently conducting a public consultation on its draft proposals – including exemptions – with a February 3 deadline for responses.
CNPA officials recommend that members of the planning committee fully adopt the proposals when they meet online tomorrow to discuss their response.
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CNPA Planning Officer Dan Harris states in his report, “The policy is intended to protect the use of smaller housing and properties which are in high demand by those wishing to live in the control area in the short term. .
“The policy also contains criteria intended to ensure that all short-term let properties are properly maintained and to avoid significant impacts on privacy, amenities and character.”
It concludes, “CNPA officers are satisfied that the proposed policy covers the relevant issues and would support the implementation of the STL Control Area for Badenoch and Strathspey…
“We recommend a simple response from CNPA that supports the proposed development policy.”
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