The Scottish Executive has knocked back plans to enlarge the Cairngorms National Park.

Sarah Boyack, deputy environment minister, told MSPs that no change would be considered until the park’s five-year plan is reviewed next year.

Campaigners, including the Perthshire Alliance for the Real Cairngorms, want to move the boundary to take in several areas which lie outside the present park. Local and national organisations are members of the alliance.

John Swinney, Scottish National Party MSP for North Tayside, had introduced a bill to include Blair Atholl and the north of Glenshee within a new boundary. Ms Boyack said the cost of extending the park would be up to £150,000. She said: “The reasons for designation in 2002 weren’t taken on a whim and it certainly wasn’t a decision taken lightly.”

The park, home to 16,000 inhabitants, contains a quarter of Britain’s threatened birds, animals and plants.