Place Objectives
C1. Access to housing
Access to housing for people who live and work in the area is a key issue for the Cairngorms National Park. We need to increase access to affordable housing and the housing market in the Cairngorms requires urgent change to support local, essential housing for workers and young people.
This cannot be addressed through housebuilding alone. We need to understand better the economic and social dynamics behind second homes, vacant and short-term lets, and reduce the loss of existing or newly-built properties to such uses. There is also a need to support housing which addresses the needs of the ageing resident population, those facing economic hardship, people with disabilities, ethnic minority communities and LGBTQ+ communities.
Key Objectives and targets
Objective
Ensure that there is sufficient affordable housing stock to enable people to live and work within the National Park.
Target
A maximum of 15% of all housing stock in the National Park will be second homes, vacant or short-term let properties by 2040.
Actions By 2027
- Introduce short-term let control areas and short-term let licensing to increase the supply of mid-market properties available for local residents and workers.
- Secure investment in the private rented sector to provide long-term housing for workers and local people.
- Develop partnership approaches led by local businesses and community-led initiatives to address accommodation needs for workers and local people.
Partners
Local authorities, Scottish Land and Estates, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Cairngorms Business Partnership.