Coul Links golf course plan rejected again by Scottish ministers

Controversial plans to build a golf course in Sutherland have been rejected for a second time by Scottish ministers.

Plans to develop Coul Links at Embo, near Dornoch, were previously refused in 2020 and now a revised proposal has also been turned down.

Ministers said the proposed 18-hold course, which was approved by Highland Council three years ago, would have a significant adverse effect on nationally and internationally important habitats and species.

The decision has been welcomed by a coalition of conservation charities but the group behind the plan, Communities for Coul, said it was a "huge blow for the area".

The group had argued the golf course would have brought much-needed investment, jobs and environmental management funding to the area.

Its director Gordon Sutherland said: "Our plans offered a real opportunity to restore and sustainably protect the Coul Links site, while also creating lasting economic benefits and new employment opportunities in an area that is being decimated by the continuing loss of working-age population."

The plan included the construction of an 18-hole golf course, practice area, access parking and plans to change existing buildings into a clubhouse and pro shop.

Coul Links landowner Edward Abel Smith, said he was "absolutely gutted" at the decision, and said a golf course would have been "transformational for the area."

He said: "During this planning application, many organisations put time, resources and money into stopping the development.

"As they seem to find Coul Links such an important site, I look forward to seeing them now come forward to arrest its continuing degradation with time, resources and, of course, money."

Scottish ministers took over the decision on the application in February 2024 because of concerns about its possible impact on important protected wildlife sites and to assess its potential economic benefits.

A coalition of seven environmental and conservation organisations opposed to the development

The groups included RSPB Scotland, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, National Trust for Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Ramblers Scotland.

Jo Pile, from the Scottish Wildlife Trust, said: "This process and outcome show how highly the people of Scotland value nature and how much they are willing to fight for it, no matter how many challenges we face."

Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy welcomed the rejection of a "damaging and inappropriate application at one of the east coast's last undeveloped dune systems".

He added: "Up to seven holes would have crossed the John o' Groats Trail, walkers' access would have been impacted by greens and fairways, and the pleasure of enjoying the natural dune landscape would have been lost forever."

The new report to ministers said that the Coul Links dune system was of "exceptional importance" with a range and quality of habitat types that "may be unparalleled within Scotland."

It said the development would still cause significant harm to the links, even in the best-case scenario for managing and reducing its impact and the worst-case scenario for the site's future condition without the project.

The report also highlighted the potential impact on the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Ramsar (wetlands of international importance) site.

The report noted that Scotland's nature agency, NatureScot, had consistently argued that the applicant had not provided enough evidence to show the development would avoid harming the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Ramsar site.

It said concerns regarding "habitat loss, habitat fragmentation and ecological connectivity remained".

The original golf plans for Coul Links were led by US businessman Todd Warnock and secured planning permission from Highland Council in 2018 before Scottish ministers called in the planning application for further scrutiny.

Following a public inquiry, the government refused permission.