Colossal building will dominate the area, local leader claims
Plans to further expand an electricity sub-station near Beauly are turning the site into "a monster", a community leader has claimed.
Energy giant Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) plans to install a high voltage converter station at the existing Wester Balblair sub-station as part of the proposed Western Isles power line connection project.
But Steve Byford, chairman of Kilmorack Community Council, is concerned about the impact of the proposed development which will be housed in a sizeable building.
It also comes as work continues to resolve noise problems caused by new equipment installed as part of the controversial Beauly to Denny 400kV power line.
"This sub-station is becoming a monster," Mr Byford said.
"It is the most dominant feature in the area. This will just increase its visibility even more."
Although SSE has yet to submit a planning application for the project, it has provided draft documents to Highland Council’s planning department to determine whether an environmental impact assessment will be needed.
Mr Byford said they indicated a building 1000ft long by 430ft wide and 60ft high. "It is enormous," he said. "People are going to be looking down on a huge, colossal building."
A public consultation, meanwhile, has begun for an overhead 400kV power line from Beauly to Kintore in Aberdeenshire which would also feed into the sub-station.
Mr Byford acknowledged that SSE had dropped plans for a 275kV line between the Wester Balblair and Loch Buidhe sub-station but feared the proposal could be revived in the future.
"When is it all actually going to be finished?" Mr Byford asked. "The sub-station is just getting larger and larger."
A spokeswoman for SSE said the plans submitted to Highland Council were indicative and did not form part of a planning application. Until the competitive tendering process was completed and the contract awarded, the company would not know what the design would look like.
"We are proposing to submit a planning application later in the year but will consult with local residents prior to any applications being made," she said.
