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Scottish Ministers have reached a decision and protected Coul Links against a golf course development for the second time.
Tens of thousands of people called for one of Scotland’s last remaining undeveloped dune systems to be saved – and now Scottish Ministers have officially rejected development plans and safeguarded this important habitat.
Plans had been submitted for an 18-hole golf course development at Coul Links, near Embo in East Sutherland. Serious concerns were raised from local campaigning groups, statutory agencies, and conservation organisations about the wide-ranging impact the course would have. After the planning application was ‘called in’ by the Government, an independent inquiry recommended to Ministers that the plans be rejected.
Plantlife is part of The Coul Links Conservation Coalition, with partners Buglife, Butterfly Conservation, Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, RSPB Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Through this coalition we all objected to the proposals and urged Scottish Ministers to reject the development. We are pleased that Ministers have upheld the legal protections to save this incredible site.
“Today’s decision to safeguard Coul Links — home to a rich diversity of plants, lichens, birds and insects — is a major victory for nature. By upholding long-standing legal protections, Scotland has sent a clear message: protected sites are just that – protected for nature. This clarity should help prevent future applications for developments on protected sites.”
Coul Links is an incredible coastal habitat, home to many plants and animals, including rare species.
The site sits near Embo in East Sutherland. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds and a Ramsar site due to being an internationally important wetland.
Yes, Coul Links has been saved from a golf course development for the second time.
This latest announcement is an amazing win for nature, for habitat protection and for the people and organisations that fought to save this special place.
This marks the second time that Coul Links has been protected from the golf course development – we hope that it will be the last. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that a new planning application will be submitted in future.
This is what Plantlife Scotland would like the new Scottish Government to do to help nature.
From our work deep in the forests of the Caledonian Pine woods to the wild north coast – species are at the very heart of what we do.
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