Three new crofts could be created in the East Sutherland area if an application for a new golf course at Coul Links gets the green light.

Although not part of the application itself, landowner Edward Abel Smith has committed to delivering the crofts if the project is given the nod.

A planning application by community-led group Communities for Coul (C4C) for the golf course was approved by The Highland Council in December.

A final decision on the application now rests with ministers in Holyrood after it was called in by the Scottish Government.

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Mr Abel Smith says the crofts will offer further housing and work opportunities and is in ongoing discussions with the council and representatives of the Embo community over his proposals to build 30 new homes and establish the crofts on the farmland.

He said: “The continuing loss of working-age population is the greatest problem facing East Sutherland. A chronic lack of both affordable housing and good employment opportunities is at the core of that growing crisis.

“Half of the new houses we are planning will be affordable homes and they will be sold with covenants to ensure they remain affordable in the long-term and are not turned into holiday lets.

“Similarly, the new crofts will not have a right to buy, ensuring that they will continue to provide homes and land for crofters into the future."

 

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