Golf course proposal that would permanently harm Coul Links was rejected thanks to you
5 min read
Yesterday Scottish Ministers refused a proposal for an 18-hole golf course at Coul Links – a nationally and internationally important place for nature – in East Sutherland in the north of Scotland.
Seven charities, including RSPB Scotland, along with local community group Not Coul, and the Scottish Government’s own nature advisors NatureScot repeatedly highlighted that the evidence showed a golf course would cause irreparable damage to protected habitats at Coul Links and harm its protected species.
Tens of thousands of people also spoke out to save Coul Links from development, by emailing their MSPs and Scottish Ministers, including hundreds from the local area.
Following the decision there is both a feeling of pride that so many people came together to stand up for nature and of relief that we finally have a positive decision after what has been a long and difficult process for everyone involved.
We hope it will be the last time Coul Links needs to be defended against inappropriate developments.
Coul Links is a unique and beautiful, coastal landscape in East Sutherland. It is one of Scotland’s last undeveloped sand dune habitats and home to a complex and diverse mix of plants and animals.
The varied sand dune habitats which include wetlands support rare and threatened species including Small Blue and Northern Brown Argus Butterflies, and a globally endangered insect, the Fonseca’s Seed Fly which is only found along this small stretch of coast. They provide a safe haven for breeding birds and for ducks such as Teal and Wigeon in winter. The coastline next to the dunes supports wading birds.
Because of Coul Links' importance for nature, the site is part of three legally protected nature sites: a nationally important Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), an internationally important Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds, and a Ramsar wetland site.
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This decision to refuse permission for a golf course at Coul Links echoes a previous one made in 2020, when similar plans for an 18-hole golf course were refused.
Initial enquiries for the second proposal happened just seven months after the first decision was announced with a full application submitted in February 2023. A public inquiry took place in November 2024 and the report from this along with a recommendation from officials went to Scottish Ministers last year.
In making their decision the Scottish Ministers agreed with the conclusions from the inquiry report regarding the impacts on species and habitats. They also agreed the proposal was not in line with local and national planning policy.
"the proposed development would result in significant adverse effects on nationally and internationally important habitats and species”
So many people have worked together to help make this significant win for nature happen.
Nearly 30,000 people took part in our e-actions to stand up for Coul Links. Thank you. Your voices made a difference.
700 objections were lodged to the original planning application, including from local community group Not Coul who have worked tirelessly for years to protect this place that they, and so many others, care so passionately about.
We are proud to have campaigned alongside you and with our partner charities as part of the Conservation Coalition - Buglife, Butterfly Conservation Scotland, Marine Conservation Society, National Trust for Scotland, Plantlife Scotland, and Scottish Wildlife Trust.
It is amazing what we can achieve for nature when we all come together.
“Places like Coul Links should be at the heart of the Scottish Government’s commitment to nature recovery, so future generations can benefit from a resilient environment where wildlife thrives. Scotland can halt and reverse nature loss but only if we protect the most important places for nature.”
Sign up to our campaigns emails, including our fortnightly Action for Nature newsletter, and join the fight to protect nature.
