Legal Challenge To Cairngorm Housing Dropped
Conservation groups have abandoned a legal challenge to development plans in Cairngorm National Park.
A legal challenge to house building in the Cairngorms National Park has been abandoned.
The appeal by a group of environmental bodies failed in the courts system twice before going to the UK Supreme Court in 2013.
However, the group behind the action – the Cairngorms Campaign, the Scottish Campaign for National Parks and the Badenoch & Strathspey Conservation Group – have decided not to proceed any further with their appeal.
They've paid the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) £38,000 towards costs.
CNPA chief executive Grant Moir welcomed the news: “I am obviously delighted that this is now the end of the matter but disappointed that it was not brought to an end sooner.
"The significant legal fees are not the only issue; we’ve invested a considerable amount of staff time and energy defending the appeal over the last few years.
"It’s frustrating to think that this is time and money that would have been better targeted towards conservation projects in the Cairngorms National Park.”
Founder of the Cairngorm Campaign Ian Lawson said: "It's extremely disappointing because we feel it hasn't been a fair fight.
"It's caused us an enormous amount of effort and anxiety; it's gone on for years.
"One of our legal advisers says the authority is wrong, and I still believe that.
"We hope this news will tigger a reaction."