Highland Council agrees trio of substations near Beauly just days after communities called for a pause as one local says SSEN’s plans will have ‘a devastating effect’
Highland Council has agreed to a trio of major renewables projects despite objectors warning of the “devastating effect on the lives of decent hardworking families, local to this area.”
The move comes just four days after hundreds of people gathered in Beauly to support community councils calling for a “pause” on all such developments.
Collectively more than 50 local councils pleaded with Highland Council, the Scottish and UK governments to listen to their concerns – a plea that has fallen on deaf ears.
Their chief concerns are that those in power are ignoring those who would like to have a say on what happens to the landscape and the impact on residents.
Now SSEN’s plans were granted planning permission for two new substations at Deanie and Culligran and a replacement for Kilmorack substation.
The existing substations of Deanie, Culligran, Aigas, and Kilmorack hydroelectric power stations are reaching the end of their operational life.
So their successors will be developed as part of the West of Beauly Asset Replacement Project for the Affric/Beauly hydroelectric scheme.
A representative from SSEN noted that the UK government updated its published guidance on Community Funds for Electricity Transmission Infrastructure in April.
And the new guidance advises that subject to Ofgem community benefit totals just under £1.6 million or £530,000 for each scheme for up to 15 years.
Kilmorack substation
Of the three Kilmorack was by far the most contentious, attracting 25 objections including from Kilmorack Community Council.
The community council objected to the application due to impacts on unclassified single-track roads, road safety, lack of meaningful pre-application consultation, cumulative effects and disruption to the community.
Resident Fiona Urquhart said: “I know only too well that the proposed structures that SSEN have in-store will have a devastating effect on the lives of decent hardworking families, local to this area.
“From the intrusive everyday land excavation and construction traffic, which is not a short term inconvenience.
“This will ultimately be a lifetime sentence, throughout the many years of construction to the completion, when at that point the sheer extent of what has been done to our rural communities throws up major trauma when it is realised the full extent of the industrial environment that has been thrust upon us, will never end.
“The cumulative proposed structures from Strathglass/Aigas/Kilmorack and ultimately the monstrosity that SSEN wants to foist on the Fanellan (Kiltarlity) community, beggars belief.”
Deanie and Culligran substations
But neither the Deanie or Culligran substations attracted objections – one was withdrawn – but councillors raised their eyebrows chiefly on the grounds of traffic.
According to the planning report: “Around 50-60 per cent of construction traffic is anticipated to approach this route from the north via Tore Roundabout, 15-20 per cent from the south via Inverness, and the remainder anticipated to approach from Wester Balblair for aggregate and concrete.”
An amendment was agreed unanimously for SSEN to monitor all traffic movements, taking account of movements other than their own such as timber lorries.
For the delivery of the transformer an abnormal load will travel from Inverness Harbour via Longman Drive to the A9 before leaving the A9 at the Tore Roundabout to join the A835 onto the B9169 to the A862 and A831 before joining the Glen Strathfarrar Road.
The developments
Deanie Substation
Location: Land 380 metres south west of Deanie Power Station, Deanie, Strathfarrar, Kiltarlity
Development: construction and operation of a 132kV replacement substation, platform, plant and machinery, access, laydown/work compound area(s), drainage, landscaping, and other ancillary works
Size: 63 metres x 63 metres concrete platform, 26 metre x 11 metre and maximum height of 5.9 metres, external air insulated switchgear (AIS) measuring up to 40 metres x 20 metres and maximum height of eight metres, 2.4 metre high security palisade perimeter fencing, deer fencing around the development.
Culligran Substation:
Location: Culligran Power Station
Development: The construction and operation of a 132kV/11kV single transformer substation to replace the existing substation at the Culligran Power Station, which is coming to the end of its operational life
Size: 60 metres x 54 metres concrete platform, control building measuring 26 metres x 11 metres and maximum height of 5.9 metres, external air insulated switchgear (AIS) measuring up to 40 metres x 20 metres and maximum height of 7.5 metres, 2.4 metre high security palisade
Kilmorack Substation Replacement
Location: Land 100 metres north east of Caulternich, Kilmorack, Beauly
Development: The construction and operation of a 132kV replacement substation, platform, plant and machinery, access, laydown/work compound area(s), drainage, landscaping, and other ancillary works.
Size: Substation platform 90 metres by 50 metres, construction of an Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) building, measuring 40 metres by 20 metres, 11.5 metres in height, construction of a control building, measuring 26 metres by 11 metres, 5.9 metres in height, a 2.4 metres high security palisade perimeter fencing.
