Coastal defence works at West Links Golf Course, North Berwick

What was proposed

The application proposed gabion baskets and mattresses, dune reinstatement, marram grass planting, replacement gabions and new timber steps.

“3rd tee - installation of gabion mattresses and single height gabion baskets over some 210m and their re-covering with sand and including the installation of a new set of timber steps at a pedestrian access from the golf course land to the beach/shoreline.”

“13th green - installation of gabion mattresses and two, three and four height gabion baskets over some 155m and the re-covering of parts of those gabion mattresses and baskets with sand, including the planting of marram grass. This part of the proposals includes the replacement of existing gabion protection which has been exposed.”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site covered 1,300 metres of shoreline beside the golf course, including dunes, footpaths, protected habitats, a conservation area and a special landscape area.

“This application relates to an area of land comprising the northern edge of the North Berwick Golf Club and including the foreshore of the coastline of the Firth of Forth. The land comprises the interface between the North Berwick West Links Golf Course and the shoreline and extends along some 1,300 metres of the shoreline. The application site measures some 4.58 hectares in area.”

“The site forms part of the Firth of Forth Special Protection Area (SPA) and the Firth of Forth Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Parts of the site are also within Priority Habitat areas. The site is also close to the Forth Islands Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).”

Officer report

Earlier coastal protection

Permission granted in 2018 for coastal defences, rock armouring, timber revetments, marram grass and sand bags had been implemented.

“On 26 June 2018, planning permission Ref. 17/00767/PM was granted for the refurbishment of existing coastal defence provisions and the installation of new coastal defence provisions, including rock armouring and refurbishment of existing timber revetments, planting of marram grass and the installation of a new Dune Protection System of soft rock sand bags on an area of land extending along the shoreline edge of the West Links Golf Course for a distance extending from the…”

Officer report

Public representations

No public representations were received on the application, and the community council did not respond.

“No public representation to the application has been received.”

“North Berwick Community Council has been consulted on the application, however, no response from them has been received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two speakers discussed the urgency of protecting the golf course, coastal erosion, environmental safeguards, public access, tourism and the local economy.

What members debated

Members discussed the golf course’s importance, coastal change, future protection, community value, safety, access, construction controls and biodiversity conditions.

“At the debate stage, Committee members commented on: the importance of golf clubs to the county; the clear evidence of change on this part of the coastline; futureproofing the golf course; the course’s standing in world golf; the importance of undertaking the work before further damage occurred, and even before the Coastal Change Adaptation Plan could come forward; the Club’s immense success, even since Covid, and the part it played in the community; the Club’s approach to…”

Minutes

The vote

Members unanimously voted to support the officer recommendation to grant consent.

“The Convener then moved to a roll call vote, and Committee members unanimously voted in support of the officer’s recommendation to grant consent.”

Minutes