Plans for third national park in Scotland ‘may exacerbate housing crisis’

Mull of Galloway lighthouse
The Mull of Galloway lighthouse, in an area of Scotland that may become a new national park - Feldman/Moment RF

A new national park in Scotland could make the housing shortage crisis worse by increasing demand for second homes and holiday lets, an official report on the plan has admitted.

NatureScot, an SNP government agency, unveiled a formal consultation on whether a third park should be established in Galloway and parts of South and East Ayrshire.

The proposed Kingdom of Galloway National Park would cover up to 1,300 square miles (3,400 sq km), making it about twice as large as the one covering Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

The park would contain about 60,000 residents, the consultation said, about twice the combined population of both existing national parks. The other one is in the Cairngorms.

‘Significant concern’ over housing

The report warned that “the purchasing of existing housing for second homes or as holiday rental properties, leading to a loss of affordable housing” had become a “significant concern” since the first two national parks were created.

It also said that some development proposals, such as agricultural sheds or forestry, may require planning permission if a national park was created as it would be classified as a “sensitive” area.

These could have “additional cost and time implications” for the farmers or businesses proposing the development, the consultation warned.

It said the new national park would not have the same protection as the two existing ones restricting wind farm developments.

Turbines would only likely be banned in areas deemed to be protected nature or scenic sites.

Parking, traffic management and road infrastructure would also have to be provided to cope with the influx of visitors, it said, although it admitted this was “hard to quantify”.

Pro-plan campaigners said the new park could bring millions of pounds to areas that were “beautiful but have suffered major decline”.

But Scottish Land & Estates, which represents landowners, said 90 per cent of its members within the proposed boundaries opposed the scheme and expressed doubt it would bring extra investment to the region.

NFU Scotland argued that NatureScot could not conduct the consultation “in an impartial manner” thanks to its “clear bias” in favour of the park going ahead. Farmers fear the park will damage rural communities and food production.

SNP ministers announced in July that the region in south-west Scotland had been chosen from a five-strong shortlist as the possible site of the country’s third national park.

The consultation will examine what area it should cover, the make-up of its governing authority and its name.

Park is ‘not a done deal’

A report will be submitted to ministers and they are expected to decide by the end of next April whether to give the new park the green light.

Unveiling the consultation, Pete Rawcliffe, NatureScot’s head of people and places, said: “A new national park in Galloway is still a proposal and not a done deal, and this is an opportunity for anyone with an interest in the proposal to have their voice heard.”

The consultation will run until Feb 14 next year and include public events and leaflets being distributed to 52,000 homes and businesses.

It noted the two existing national park authorities are taking action on affordable housing shortages in their areas and the new one “would need to keep this issue under active review”.

It would “seek to address any significant implications” for the area by working with local councils and social housing providers.

Residents’ ‘voices are not heard’

Mairi Gougeon, the SNP’s Rural Affairs Secretary, said: “I recognise the significant public interest in this proposal and am aware that there is both support and opposition.

“Everyone’s views will be listened to and taken into account and I would encourage everyone with an interest to engage with the consultation process in a constructive and respectful way.”

But Martin Kennedy, the NFU Scotland president, wrote to her, stating: “NatureScot committed to conducting its investigation in an open, transparent and inclusive way. But unfortunately, its clear bias is preventing this from happening.

“Our members in the Galloway and Ayrshire regions feel that their views are not represented, their voices are not heard, and their opinions do not matter.

“They feel the matter on whether Galloway should become a new National Park has already been decided by a small minority.”

Stephen Young, the director of policy at Scottish Land & Estates, said: “A national park needs to be an enabling force for the people who live and work in the area but we hold concerns that this has been hugely overlooked when drawing up these plans.”

But Sandra McDowall, the vice-chairman of the Galloway National Park Association, said: “This is a chance for all of us to build a brighter future – to achieve something amazing for our region.

“A Galloway national park would attract large amounts of funding and inward investment for our environment, our economy and – of huge importance – would help us create a better future for our children.”