National Parks
Scotland has two National Parks:
- Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, established in 2002
- Cairngorms National Park, established in 2003 and extended in 2010
National Parks serve as models of sustainable development. They do this by:
- working to protect and enhance their natural and cultural heritage
- promoting responsible access to nature
- supporting local economies and communities
- managing millions of visitors annually
Find out more about the role and work of Scotland’s National Parks:
Proposal for a new National Park
We committed to the designation of at least one new National Park by 2026, provided that legal conditions can be met. Any new National Park should:
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support economic growth
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address the climate emergency
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improve public services and community wellbeing
In October 2023 we invited local communities to put forward nominations for their area to become Scotland’s next National Park. We received nominations from communities in Galloway, Loch Awe, Lochaber, Scottish Borders and Tay Forest. These nominations have been appraised against published criteria:
The outcome of the appraisal process is summarised in a report:
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new National Parks appraisal panel report (July 2024)
We have considered the outcome of the appraisal process and we are proposing to designate a new National Park in Galloway. This is subject to the outcome of a reporter investigation:
NatureScot is required to consider the proposal for a new National Park and to produce a report.
The reporter’s work will include extensive public consultation and engagement with local communities, stakeholders, businesses, landowners and managers and public bodies to discuss, test and further shape and refine the National Park proposal. Read more on NatureScot’s website.
We will consider the outcome of the reporter investigation carefully. This includes taking into account any views on the National Park proposal expressed by those consulted and any significant issues reported by NatureScot. The report will be laid before Parliament and published.
We may then decide to bring forward legislation to establish a National Park in Galloway. A draft ‘Designation Order’ would be subject to public consultation and scrutiny before a final order is laid in Parliament for consideration and approval.
Assessing the impacts of a proposed new National Park
We have prepared a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) report relating to the proposal to designate a new National Park. It will be important to consider whether any new or previously unidentified significant environmental effects may arise from the proposal for a new National Park in Galloway.
Work will also be undertaken to determine other potential impacts of a new National Park in Galloway, including:
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a business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA)
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a child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA)
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an equality impact assessment (EQIA)
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a Fairer Scotland Duty assessment
Constitution and role of National Park Authorities
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority and the Cairngorms National Park Authority were established as executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) under the provisions of the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000.
We provide annual funding to the Park Authorities in the form of Grant in Aid, which they use to deliver the 2000 Act’s statutory aims as well as other functions and duties conferred on them by the Act.
The 2000 Act sets out four National Park aims:
- to conserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage
- to promote the sustainable use of the natural resources of the area
- to promote understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area by the public
- to promote sustainable social and economic development of the communities of the area
The Park Authorities’ role is to co-ordinate the collective delivery of these four statutory National Park aims, and in this way ensure a sustainable future for these areas.
National Park Partnership Plans
The 2000 Act requires each of the Park Authorities to prepare a five-year National Park Partnership Plan to serve as an overarching management plan. These plans set out how all those with a responsibility in each park, across public, private and voluntary organisations, will co-ordinate their work to address the most important issues in relation to conservation, visitor experience and rural development.
The Park Authorities are responsible for leading the delivery of their respective plans and for ensuring the National Parks’ activities continue to align with our national strategies and aims. Here are the current National Park Partnership Plans:
- Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Partnership Plan 2018 - 2023
- Cairngorms National Park Partnership Plan 2022 – 2027
National Park Authority planning functions
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority is responsible for deciding all planning applications in the National Park area.
The planning system in the Cairngorms National Park is managed by the Cairngorms National Park Authority and the five local authorities which operate in the National Park, with the Park Authority ‘calling in’ and deciding those applications which are big or important to the National Park.
NatureScot will consult on the possible planning functions of a new National Park in Galloway during the Reporter Investigation. The options include:
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the National Park authority being the planning authority for the National Park (for the purposes of the planning Acts)
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the National Park authority being the planning authority only in respect of development plan preparation (as set out in Part II (development plans) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (c. 8))
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the National Park authority having planning functions that are set out in the Designation Order. This could include, for example, the possibility of the planning function remaining with local authorities in the area, with the National Park authority being given statutory powers as a consultee
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no planning functions being conferred on the National Park authority