LIVEPark Local Development Plan 1.0 | INTRO SECTION 3 Place development needed to support our communities, visitors and local economy, whilst ensuring the outstanding environment. 33 3.1 The National Park Loch Lomond & The Trossachs has long been recognised as a special place. Since the times of Wordsworth and Scott its scenic qualities have been celebrated. It is these qualities which have made the The National Park covers 1,865 square area such a popular place to visit and which kilometres (720 square miles), extending contributed to its designation as a National from Holy Loch on the Cowal peninsula to Park in 2002. The Park also is noted for its St Fillans at the eastern end of Loch Earn, natural and cultural heritage value, having and from Balloch to Tyndrum. It is an area of a diverse range of habitats and species, contrasts from rolling lowland landscapes in and a distinctive cultural identity. And it is the south, to high mountains in the north, this cultural identity, carved by its people, and has many lochs and rivers, forests that has made the Park’s Towns and and woodlands. The Highland Boundary Villages what they are today; but of course its special environment has played the Scotland, crosses the south east corner of role of both provider and inspirer in their the National Park, and marks the dramatic development. transition from the gentle lowlands to the dramatic uplands. 34 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN LIVEPARK LIVE Park Local Development Plan 3.0 | PLACE Towns and Villages The Towns and Villages are central to the Plan’s development strategy as this is where the majority of development is directed. This is appropriate as it is where the majority of services are located such as shops, schools, and health centres. As well as having these services the Towns and Villages can attract investment to improve connections to the rest of the Park and beyond through the road, rail and path network. Some key facts include: 20 Towns and Villages exist within the Park 15 primary schools One secondary school (McLaren High), although the area is served by four outwith the Park’s boundary. With primary school Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2016 35 Environment Land cover in the Park broadly comprises The geodiversity of the Park has led to Some key facts relating to the environment a mixture of upland and moorland include: vegetation (around 50%), woodlands building materials which has contributed 8 Special Areas of Conservation and forestry (around 26%), enclosed to the distinct character of the area’s built agricultural land (around 15%) and water heritage. Mineral resources, including gold, 2 Special Protection Areas (around 7%). also exist near Tyndrum. (38 completely in The Park) Agriculture, particularly sheep production Growing demands for tourism and and forestry, remain the backbone of the recreation are leading to changes in 3 National Nature Reserves rural economy, with the support from patterns of land use, particularly around 1.5% of The Park forms Geological Government subsidies being critical. The the south of Loch Lomond where Conservation Review Sites entire Park area is currently covered by many estates and their policies have 2 RAMSAR Sites the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme been converted to golf courses and holiday accommodation. Such change 2 National Scenic Areas across the area - although this is currently can, if appropriately handled, present 2 Forest Parks opportunities to better manage and being reviewed. While not the largest Numerous non-inventory designed enhance important landscape features employer, the importance of their role landscapes in land management and maintaining and habitats, as well as provide wider the traditional character of the Park is recreation opportunities. 22 Lochs 39 miles of coastline around three sea lochs important lochs and water catchments 21 Munros and 19 Corbetts many of which are used for water Loch Lomond is the largest expanse extraction and hydro power generation. of freshwater in Great Britain 728 Listed buildings 8 Conservation Areas 62 Scheduled Monuments Widespread local archaeology, and 8 Gardens and Designed Landscapes 36 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN LIVEPARK LIVE Park Local Development Plan 3.0 | PLACE Cultural & Built Heritage Designation map Natural Heritage Designation map Railway Railway Main Road Main Road Loch Loch Listed Building RAMSAR Conservation Area Special Area of Scheduled Monument Conservation Garden and designed Special Protection Area landscape Marine Protection Area National Nature Reserves Geological Conservation Review Site Site of Special Data source: Listed Buildings, GDL & SAM – Historic Scotland. Data Source: SSSI, MPA, NNR, GCR, SAC, Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2016 SPA & RAMSAR – Scottish Natural Heritage. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2016 37 Economy The Park’s economy is dominated by This close proximity to large urban areas from, and also for small or sole practice tourism, land-based businesses and and its high quality natural environment professional consultancies. the service sector. The Value of the means that tourism dominates. It also Rural landownership is dominated by Park study commissioned in 2011 means that the larger towns and cities privately managed farms and a number suggests that the value of visitor close to the Park are typically more of large private estates along with public services is £205.9 million per annum. attractive locations for businesses and third-sector land, particularly the and commercial premises as they are Other aspects of the National Park’s Forestry Commission which includes large closer to their customers or demand for parts of the Queen Elizabeth and Argyll their services. However, the Park is an of accessible countryside within the Forest Parks. Decisions made by land attractive area for people who work in hinterland of the cities and towns of managers are key to ensuring a healthy these businesses to live and commute central Scotland. rural economy. 38 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN LIVE PARK People LIVE Park The Park is host to people who live here, expected to be a 10% reduction over the Local visit the Park, invest in local businesses, long term. Like Scotland as a whole, the Development and experience the spectacular percentage of people of a pensionable age Plan landscapes. The 2011 Census reported in the National Park is set to increase over 3.0 | PLACE that the National Park has a population of the next 20 years. It is predicted to increase 15,168. This is a reduction from the 2001 by 13% from 2010 to 2035 with a reduction Census which was 15,600 and there is in our young people. Scotland 9% Stirling 16% Transport There are the following strengths to Perth and Kinross 24% National Park Area -10% transport in the National Park: Argyll & Bute - 14% It is within an hour’s travel West Dunbartonshire - 8% of over two million people. 15 10 5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 It is within an hour’s travel of two of Scotland’s largest airports. Table 1: National Records of Scotland Projected % Population change (2012 - 2037) The main tourist route to the North West Highlands runs through it - the A82. Numerous piers and slipways provide access to our Lochs. 6 railway stations (Ardlui, Arrochar, Balloch, Crianlarich, Tyndrum Upper and Lower). 4 trunk roads (A82, A83, A84 & A85). there have been recent completions on the A82 at Pulpit rock and Crianlarich By-pass. 39 3.2 Our Towns and Villages In this section you will see maps which illustrate the Plan’s p71 policies and proposals spatially. p86 A map of each Town and Village in the Park has been produced, along with p60 site maps which we have allocated for p76 housing (indicative numbers), economic development and visitor experience. p81 These are provided separately. There are extra illustrations for seven p82 site maps which we feel merit further consideration of the placemaking and design principals stated earlier in this Plan. p49 p83 p56 p42 icons which display the key considerations which should be taken into account before p78 submitting a development proposal. This list of icons is not exhaustive and before p79 p68 submitting a planning application, we p58 strongly recommend applicants approach p59 p57 us for pre-application discussions. p64 A detailed explanation of what the icons mean can be found in Appendix 3. p73 p62 p69 p53 40 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN LIVEPARK LIVE Park Local Development Plan 3.0 | PLACE Key for Site Map Icons Key for Town/Village Maps ACCESS LINKAGES TO BE PROVIDED HOUSING H ACTIVE TRAVEL PLAN LOCHSHORE PROTECTION VISITOR EXPERIENCE VE ARCHAEOLOGICAL MIXED USE MU LONG TERM SITE ASSESSMENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ED BUILT ENVIRONMENT NATURA DESIGNATION RURAL ACTIVITY RA CORE PATH(S) ON OR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT TRANSPORT TR ADJACENT TO SITE DESIGNATION PLACEMAKING PRIORITY PP OPEN SPACE PROVISION DESIGN DOCUMENT (PLAY AREAS) CONSERVATION AREA DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS PLACE-MAKING PRIORITY TOWN/VILLAGE BOUNDARY DRAINAGE IMPACT PROTECTED SPECIES ASSESSMENT CORE PATHS OPEN SPACE FLOOD RISK ASSESSMENT PUBLIC PARKING REQUIRED GEOLOGY ROAD SAFETY SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SYSTEM (SUDS) LAND CONTAMINATION TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT WASTE CAPACITY WOODLAND/ LANDSCAPE CONTEXT ANCIENT WOODLAND 41 The community holds aspirations to really improve The community also have aspirations to improve CALLANDER the facilities for visitors with ongoing improvements the well-developed walking and cycling network Callander is the largest town to the town centre. The main focus for future throughout the area. Roadside footways and development is therefore to; a gateway in the east. It has support the town centre and modernise of utility journeys and recreational experiences to a distinct character strongly Station Road car park; both residents and visitors. accommodate a replacement pedestrian position sitting alongside the bridge, a long term road bridge and associated this network, making it an exemplar walking and River Teith and where the road improvements; cycling friendly town.