SSEN Transmission insists no significant design change to proposed Fanellan substation
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An energy giant is seeking to reassure the public there will be no significant change to the design and footprint of previously-outlined proposals for a vast substation near Kiltarlity.
Campaigners and local residents were recently left reeling after an apparent enlargement of controversial plans for a substation at Fanellan which were first unveiled a year ago.
But SSEN Transmission says it is addressing "misconceptions" over the scale of the development which were highlighted in the media and says the plans remain in line with those previously outlined to local residents.
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Campaigners were recently left horrified following the submission of a Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) which allows for both permanent design and temporary requirements during the construction phase.
Clan chief Lord Lovat had also expressed "surprise" at the company's apparent enlargement of the proposed development which lies on Lovat Estate land.
SSEN says it has clarified that the boundary outlined in the PAN includes all potential temporary construction works and permanent landscaping – with no significant change to the design and footprint of the permanent substation that was outlined to residents and the public last year.
Senior development project manager Ross McKay said: "As part of our commitment to providing clarity to the local community, it’s important that we address misconceptions that have arisen regarding our plans.
"Like all developers, SSEN Transmission is required to submit a PAN to the appropriate planning authority for large infrastructure projects providing a general development area, known as the PAN boundary.
"As well as the actual substation site footprint, the boundary includes all other potential site requirements, for example temporary site compounds, material storage, site access and parking.
"Many of these requirements are temporary during the construction phase and will be permanently removed upon completion of the project.
As such, the boundary doesn’t represent the permanent footprint of the substation itself but indicates the potential full development area.
"This remains under development and will be subject to further design and refinement ahead of presentation at the second consultation event scheduled for the summer and submission as a planning application.
"The design for the permanent site at Fanellan is in line with what we have consulted on with the local community already.
"We remain focused on minimising temporary construction and permanent operational impacts on residents and remain committed to ongoing consultation with the local community as we continue to develop this project."
He added statutory pre-application consultation events will take place in Kiltarlity and Beauly in late March when residents will have the opportunity to discuss the plans further.
The project would form a vital component in SSEN’s broader £7 billion ‘pathway to 2030’ upgrade of UK energy infrastructure in the north of Scotland.
