An Camas Mòr 2011

Bringing together the aspirations of Cairngorms National Park Authority, Rothiemurchus Estate and Aviemore Community Council An Camas Mòr will be the first new community planned for a National Park in the UK. The aspiration is for a self-sustaining extension to Aviemore, allowing the growing population to live and work locally. Once complete, the settlement will consist of 1500 homes, business, retail, leisure, community facilities and a country park.

The masterplan, design code and phase 1 proposals establish a framework for incremental growth over a period of 20-30 years. The aim is to do this with minimal land take and on land of lower ecological value.

The masterplan records a brief around the themes of community, landscape and local character:

COMMUNITY

• A distinct identity through new typologies of living and working amongst forest industries, with space for active outdoor lifestyles.
• Capacity for home working integral with space for enterprise and local employment.
• Growing facilities reciprocally with Aviemore.

LANDSCAPE

• A lacework of habitats and landscape corridors.
• Existing pine and birch woods retained.
• Landforms, glacial kettleholes, and the existing forest determining the street layout.
• A wooded setting for new homes.

LOCAL CHARACTER

• A mix of street types from winding high street through closes and lanes to woodland and burns.
• A priority on walking and cycling in shared space streets.
• An upper Speyside palette of materials.

In 2014 An Camas Mòr was shortlisted for a UDG Practice Award.