Measures to tackle the shortage of affordable housing for new and young families in the Cairngorms National Park area have been approved.

The planning committee of the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) met at Ballater to agree modifications to their local plan that will see developers obliged to provide a higher percentage of affordable homes in the area compared with other local authorities.

CPNA will seek a minimum 40% affordable housing quota where public funding has been secured towards a housing development. Where no public money is involved the proportion will be 25%. Developments of one or two open-market houses in the park will also be required to make a cash payment towards affordable housing.

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The move was triggered by a 2006 study which found that only 29% of new and young households in the park would be able to afford to buy a home. The report concluded that the situation was very serious indeed.

CNPA board convener, David Green said: "There is a real need for affordable housing in the park and the local plan sets out a requirement to ensure this is achieved. However, there is still market demand for a wide range of homes so it's important to strike the correct balance to ensure developers provide affordable housing while giving them enough incentive to develop the land."

CNPA planning committee convener, Duncan Bryden said a number of modifications had been made in response to comments from local builders and those involved in the development industry.

He added: "We have included a policy that will allow for small-scale infill development in settlements, rewritten another policy that will allow for housing development where there is a group of three or more existing houses, and we have also taken measures to ensure that new large-scale housing developments must involve a variety of people including small-scale, local builders and not given over solely to large-scale builders."

(GK/JM)