A supposed community-rooted company, Communities for Coul, C4C, is proposing to submit a SECOND planning application for a ‘world-class’ ‘Championship’ golf course sited mainly on protected land at Coul Links, within Loch Fleet SSSI.

A first 2017 attempt was refused planning permission by the Scottish Government in February 2020. This followed a four-week Inquiry before two government-appointed Reporters.

Local developers immediately regrouped in 2020 lockdown to plan a second attempt, refusing to accept the government decision which was based on major likely damage to nature conservation interests at Coul.

The area is triple-protected: as well as SSSI it is also part of a Special Protection Area and Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

PLANNING HISTORY SO FAR: SOURCES 

Follow the planning history of the opposition to this development here. 

If you are unfamiliar with the history of this struggle, the detail is present on several official planning sites:

1. Highland Council ePlanning simple search: Simple Search (highland.gov.uk)
2. Planning & Environmental Appeals Division (DPEA): 2019 Coul Links Public Inquiry Scottish Government – DPEA – Case Details (scotland.gov.uk)

Highland Council ePlanning References (enter into Simple Search):

• 2017 Golf Course application: 17/04601/FUL
• 2017 Reservoir and water abstraction: 17/04404/FUL
• 2021 Coul EcoLodge Hotel: 21/02644/FUL
• 2021 Two golf courses, screening: 20/02820/SCRE
• 2022 ONE golf course scoping: 22/01330/SCOP
• 2022 Proposal of Application Notice: 22/02800/PAN

27 July 2022

Not Coul website www.notcoul.org goes live

27 July 2022

C4C Drop-In Exhibition, Embo Community Centre 3-7pm

Not Coul attended and distributed a leaflet outlining multiple faults in the economic and environmental case being stated by Communities for Coul.

See images below or access the PDF here.