Councillors back new Coul Links golf course plan

Councillors have voted in favour of an 18-hole golf course being built at Coul Links in Sutherland.

The coastal site near Embo has a number of environmental designations, and previous proposals for an 18-hole course were refused permission in 2020.

RSPB Scotland and Ramblers Scotland are among organisations to raise concerns about the new project's environmental impact.

Councillors on Highland Council's north planning applications committee voted eight to six in favour of the plans, which now go to the Scottish government for a decision.

The developers, Communities for Coul Limited (C4C), said they wanted to build a world-class course that would attract more visitors to the area.

C4C said the course would create up to 400 new jobs and generate more than £11m annually for the local economy.

Director Gordon Sutherland, 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."

Highland Council planning officers recommended councillors refuse permission.

The officials said the project had substantial local support and could bring economic benefits, but added that concerns remained about its environmental impact.

They said changes had been made to earlier proposals that were rejected by the Scottish government following a public inquiry.

But they added that the revisions had “fallen short” and recommended that councillors refuse the plans at a meeting next week.

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

Following a public inquiry, the government refused permission.

In their decision in February 2020, Scottish ministers said the plan would have supported economic growth and rural development.

But they agreed with government-appointed planning officials' findings that the golf course would have "significant" effects on rare plant life, wintering and breeding birds and the the dunes themselves.