Councillors have voted in favour of controversial plans to build a golf course within an area of protected sand dunes in the Scottish Highlands.
Proposals for the 18-hole course at Coul Links near Embo, Sutherland, have come under criticism from the likes of Ramblers Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust and RSPB Scotland amid concerns over its environmental impact.
Ramblers Scotland has argued the development would permanently transform the area, harm the natural landscape, and affect access.
However, developer Communities for Coul (C4C) said the “world-class” golf course would create around 400 new jobs and “stop the destructive spiral of depopulation in the northern Highlands”.
On Wednesday, a majority of councillors on Highland Council’s north planning applications committee voted in favour of the plans – which will now go before the Scottish government.
Gordon Sutherland, director at C4C, said: “Our plans, which have had the backing of local people from the outset, offer a genuine chance to create much-needed new employment opportunities in an area where the working age population is falling, threatening the future viability of fragile communities.
“They also provide a guaranteed future for the wonderful wild coastal environment of Coul Links, which is currently sadly neglected and at risk.”
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The Coul Links site forms part of the Loch Fleet Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the Dornoch Firth and Loch Fleet Special Protection Area (SPA).
A previous similar application was blocked by the Scottish government in 2020 following a public inquiry.
At the time, Scottish ministers said the plan would have supported economic growth and rural development but concluded that the harmful impacts of the golf course on protected habitats and species outweighed the potential socio-economic benefits.
Highland Council planning officers had recommended councillors refuse permission for the latest plans.
The officials accepted that the project had “substantial” local support and could bring economic benefits, but said concerns remained about its environmental impact.
While changes had been made to address concerns from the earlier rejected proposals, they said the revisions had “fallen short” and recommended the plans be refused.
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Ramblers Scotland, which launched a petition against the plans, previously claimed a number of the golf course’s holes would cross the John o’ Groats Trail, which would make it hard for walkers and other visitors to avoid interfering with play at busy times.
The organisation is now calling on the Scottish government to hold another public inquiry.
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Brendan Paddy, Ramblers Scotland director, said: “It is disappointing this damaging plan has been approved, despite evidence-based objections from residents, visitors, conservationists, NatureScot and Highland Council’s own ecology and access experts.
“The golf course will permanently harm access, the landscape and the experience for people walking these internationally-protected dunes.
“Sadly, councillors ignored their own experts, as well as the clear recommendations of national agencies.
“We believe the Scottish government has no option other than launching another public inquiry, to show that our finest beauty spots aren’t simply up for sale to the highest bidder.”
