Although plans for the Coul Links development at Embo in Sutherland were passed at a special meeting of the Highland Council planning committee in June, Scotland’s Planning Minister Kevin Stewart has called in the application so that it can now be studied by an independent reporter.
Mr Stewart said that the proposal raises issues of national importance in relation to natural heritage issues and its compliance with Scottish planning policy and requires further scrutiny. The independent reporter will consider all the evidence and make a recommendation to ministers who will make the final decision.
The developer Todd Warnock said today (24 Aug): “Whilst this decision delays bringing significant economic and environmental benefits to the area, we welcome the opportunity to set out again the compelling case to create a world class golf course in east Sutherland.
“Highland Council’s North Planning Applications Committee, as the competent planning authority, took an emphatic decision in June and, apart from a single narrow objection from Scottish Natural Heritage, the statutory bodies involved are not opposed to the plans after a comprehensive assessment.
“The project also has overwhelming support from local people. We thank them again for their help and encouragement and are sorry for them that there is a further delay in a process that has already taken more than three years.
“We have made our case consistently to anyone prepared to listen objectively and we look forward to doing so again with the independent Reporter.”
Coul Links https://www.coullinks.co.uk/