Save Calgary Bay
Deadline: 5 March 2026

Track Progress

Live status of application 26/00126/PP. Last updated: 3 March 2026.

Current Status

420
Public objections
0
Letters of support
3 of 8
Consultee responses
5 Mar
Comment deadline
PPSL
Decision method
E. Shaw
Case officer

What to Do Now

Most important: submit your objection

The comment deadline is 5 March 2026. After that date, there is no guarantee your objection will be accepted. If you haven't already, submit your objection now.

Also helpful:

  • Write to councillors Andrew Kain and Amanda Hampsey — they sit on the PPSL committee and will vote on this application.
  • Ask Mull Community Council if they have been consulted — they were not on the original consultee list.
  • Share this page with anyone who cares about Calgary Bay.
  • Contact RSPB and Scottish Wildlife Trust about the Schedule 1 species records at this site (9 Schedule 1 birds, 3 EPS).

SEPA has formally objected

SEPA submitted a holding objection on 18 February 2026 (ref PCS-20007916), confirming the site is at flood risk from a watercourse to the northwest. The Council confirmed no NPF4 Policy 22 exceptions apply. The application cannot be determined until the applicant provides a topographic survey, photographs, and culvert information, and SEPA lifts its objection. Under Circular 3/2009 Category 2, if SEPA maintains its objection and the committee still votes to approve, Scottish Ministers must be notified.

Biodiversity Officer has formally objected

The Council's own Biodiversity Officer submitted a holding objection on 18 February 2026, confirming that “most of the proposed site is located within the Calgary Bay Local Nature Conservation Site (LNCS).” The objection states the submitted surveys “were not undertaken at the appropriate time of year” and requires Phase I habitat, NVC, European Protected Species (otter, invertebrates, reptiles, breeding birds), and tree surveys before consent. These surveys can only be done in spring/summer — pushing the earliest possible determination to autumn 2026. The Biodiversity Officer warns that if the LNCS designation is upheld in the ongoing review (due summer 2026), a formal objection will follow. See the consultee tracker below.

What's Changed

  • 3 Mar New ~420+ objections (+60 since 1 Mar). Butterfly Conservation Scotland submits expert letter: Transparent Burnet moth colony along access road, decades of monitoring data, species location map. A former SAC Senior Adviser confirms site professionally assessed for floristic diversity. A Tobermory-based wildlife recorder provides grid references for otter runs, pine marten, and rare White Script Lichen. Applicant's architect responds with 2-page letter but concedes ecology survey was preliminary. NatureScot still silent — day 28.
  • 1 Mar No new documents uploaded (weekend). Portal unchanged from 28 Feb.
  • 28 Feb ~363 objections (283 visible on portal, ~363 estimated unique objectors). Environmental Health responds: no objection, no conditions. 3 of 8 consultees now responded. Notable new objectors include Friends of Calgary Bay (SSSI land managers, 15-page submission) and several professional ecologists. Still zero support. NatureScot still silent — day 25.
  • 25 Feb New BIODIVERSITY OFFICER HOLDING OBJECTION (18 Feb, uploaded 24 Feb). Confirms site is within LNCS. Requires Phase I, NVC, EPS (otter, invertebrates, reptiles, breeding birds), and tree surveys before consent. Surveys can only be done spring/summer — earliest determination now autumn 2026. ~250+ objections. Geological photos and map also uploaded (dykes along access track). NatureScot still silent (consulted 3 Feb, no response after 22 days).
  • 22 Feb 230 objections (+31 since 20 Feb). NatureScot still silent — day 19 since consultation. Still zero support. No new consultee responses.
  • 20 Feb 199 objections (+8 since 19 Feb). NatureScot still silent — day 17 since consultation. Still zero support.
  • 19 Feb PM New SEPA HOLDING OBJECTION (PCS-20007916, 18 Feb). SEPA confirms flood risk from NW watercourse. Council confirmed no Policy 22 exceptions apply. Application effectively frozen. ~191 objections total (+33 since AM).
  • 19 Feb AM 158 objections. +10 since 18 Feb. Still zero support, zero consultee responses after 16+ days.
  • 18 Feb 148 objections. +38 since 17 Feb. Still zero support, zero consultee responses. Key new evidence: peregrine falcon breeding family of 4, pine marten (second EPS), Slender Burnet Moth transect data, professional wildlife guide with detailed otter holt locations, BOD failure calculations for drainage system.
  • 17 Feb 110 objections. Still zero support, zero consultee responses. New evidence includes hen harrier photographic records, sand martin colony, and accessibility concerns about the path diversion.
  • 15 Feb 58 objections. Massive surge from social media sharing and Oban Times coverage.
  • 13 Feb 41 objections. +3 since 11 Feb.
  • 12 Feb Press advertisement published in Oban Times. 21-day clock starts — comment deadline is 5 March 2026.
  • 10 Feb WoSAS (archaeology) and Local Biodiversity Officer added to consultees — 7 days late, only after public objections flagged the gap.
  • 10 Feb Oban Times publishes “Outrage at plans for house at Calgary Bay” (Owen Wild).
  • 3 Feb 6 consultees notified: NatureScot, SEPA, HES, Area Roads, Environmental Health, Core Paths.
  • 2 Feb Application validated by Argyll & Bute Council.

What Happens to Your Objection

Step 1: It arrives. Your email lands in the inbox of the planning department at Argyll & Bute Council. It's assigned to the case officer for this application.

Step 2: The case officer reads it. Under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, the case officer must consider every valid representation and identify the planning issues you've raised. If you mention otters, flood risk, housing policy, or any specific concern, it must be noted.

Step 3: The case officer writes a report. The case officer doesn't make the final decision. A report goes to the elected committee, summarising ALL the objections and ALL the consultee responses. Your words appear in this report — that's what “material consideration” means.

Step 4: The committee votes. With 420+ objections, this application cannot be decided by the case officer alone. It MUST go to the PPSL Committee. Two local ward councillors — Andrew Kain and Amanda Hampsey — sit on this committee.

Step 5: What if they say yes anyway? SEPA and the Biodiversity Officer have formally objected. If the committee still votes to approve, Scottish Ministers MUST be notified under Circular 3/2009. They get 28 days to decide whether to “call in” the application.

That's why every objection matters. Your email isn't a vote in a poll. It's a formal legal representation that must be read, summarised, and presented to the people who decide.

Consultee Tracker

Why do consultee responses matter? Statutory consultees (SEPA, NatureScot, HES) are expert bodies whose opinions carry significant weight. If NatureScot or SEPA formally object and the Council still wants to approve, Scottish Ministers must be notified under Circular 3/2009.
Why have 5 consultees still not responded? SEPA, the Biodiversity Officer, and Environmental Health have responded. NatureScot, HES, Area Roads, Core Paths, and WoSAS have been silent since early February. NatureScot has not responded despite being consulted on 3 February — over 28 days ago — their AI platform (InformedDECISION) typically processes routine consultations within minutes, suggesting this case has been escalated for human review.
Consultee What they assess Consulted Response What their objection would mean
NatureScot SSSI, otters (EPS), SAC, habitats 3 Feb Awaiting Triggers Circular 3/2009 ministerial notification
SEPA Flood risk, drainage, water quality 3 Feb Holding Objection Objection confirmed 18 Feb. Triggers Circular 3/2009 if committee approves
HES Listed building setting, archaeology 3 Feb Awaiting Would require heritage setting assessment
Area Roads Access, road safety, track upgrade 3 Feb Awaiting Could require conditions or refuse on access
Environmental Health Noise, water supply, drainage 3 Feb No Objection Responded 22 Feb (uploaded 25 Feb): no objection, no conditions
Core Paths Path diversion, public access 3 Feb Awaiting Could object to path diversion
WoSAS Archaeology: Calgary Dun, Inivea 10 Feb Awaiting Added late, after objections flagged gap
Local Biodiversity Species, LNCS, biodiversity 10 Feb Holding Objection Objection confirmed 18 Feb. Requires Phase I, NVC, EPS, tree surveys. LNCS review due summer 2026

Ready to Act?

Everything you need to submit your objection, write to councillors, and contact wildlife organisations is on the action page.

Take Action Now

Can I Still Object After 5 March?

Technically yes. Late representations may be accepted at the case officer's discretion, but there is no guarantee. The strongest position is to submit before 5 March.

Even after the deadline, you can:

  • Write to your ward councillors
  • Contact the Community Council
  • Attend the PPSL committee hearing in person
  • Contact wildlife organisations