Plans to develop a gold course at Coul Links, near Dornoch, have been refused by the Scottish Government.<\/p>\n
The proposals were previously refused in 2020, before being approved by the Highland Council three years ago, but then called in for assessment by government reporters. Ministers said the course would have a significant adverse effect on important habitats and species.<\/p>\n
The group behind the development, Communities for Coul, said the decision was a “huge blow for the area” as it would have brought investment, jobs and environmental management funding.<\/p>\n
Director Gordon Sutherland responded: “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.”<\/p>\n
In addition to the 18-hole golf course, a practice area, clubhouse and pro shop were planned.<\/p>\n
Scottish ministers took over the application in February 2024 because of concerns about the impact on protected wildlife sites and to assess economic benefits. RSPB Scotland, Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, National Trust for Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Ramblers Scotland all opposed the proposal.<\/p>\n
The government reporter said the development would still cause significant harm to the links, even in the best-case scenario for managing its impact and the worst-case scenario for the site’s future condition without the project.<\/p>\n
Scottish Green MSP Ariane Burgess previously led a 4,500 strong petition calling for a review the application.<\/p>\n
“Coul Links is an exceptionally important place for nature, with a unique range of habitats and wildlife found nowhere else in Scotland,” she stated. “Building a golf course on it would have been deeply damaging and completely at odds with Scotland\u2019s commitments to protect nature.<\/p>\n
“We can\u2019t keep destroying our natural world in the name of profit – it\u2019s an important win for Scotland\u2019s wildlife and nature.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This is the second time plans for the site have been knocked back by Holyrood<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":278857,"featured_media":8396,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"coauthors":[137126],"class_list":["post-8395","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-property","tag-featured-story","tag-highlands-islands"],"yoast_head":"\n