SSEN Transmission's plans for major new overhead power line linking Beauly to Peterhead to be discussed at public events in Inverness, Beauly, Elgin and Forres
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A MAJOR new power line stretching from Beauly to Peterhead is set to enter its next phase of public consultation with a series of public events this month.
SSEN Transmission is currently seeking views on preferred routes for the overhead pylons that will be part of plans to 'reinforce' the network between Beauly and Peterhead as more wind farms and other electricity generation come online.
SSEN Transmission is inviting members of the public to share their views at a series of nine public events starting next week at venues across the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire.
Energy chiefs say the new Peterhead to Beauly overhead line project will help connect onshore and offshore renewable power and transport it from source to areas of demand across the country.
The draft route options, which also include the connection to new proposed substations along its route at Blackhillock near Keith and New Deer, have been determined following feedback received during the first round of consultation events last year.
Related: Highland MSP Maree Todd holds talks with SSEN over power line proposals
SSEN Transmission said it is now looking for feedback on these draft route options which will inform more detailed alignments for the new overhead electricity transmission line.
Since the first round of consultation took place in autumn 2022, which saw over 360 people attend eight roadshow events about the project, SSEN said its engineers had worked to narrow down the route corridor options and refine them into more defined routes. These draft route options range from 200m to 1km in width, depending on the nature and extent of constraints of the area in question.
It added that following feedback, the 190km overhead line's route has been redivided from five sections to 11 sections, allowing people to share feedback on specific areas they are interested in.
And, following consultation events in Aberdeenshire next week, the consultation roadshow comes to Moray, Inverness and Beauly from April 24.
The first of these more local events will be held on Monday, April 24 at the UHI Moray College campus in Elgin from 2pm to 7pm. It will be followed by an event in Forres Town Hall on Tuesday, April 25 from 2pm to 4pm, another in the Kingsmills Hotel in Inverness on Wednesday, April 26 from 2pm to 7pm, and one in Phipps Hall in Beauly on Thursday, April 27 from midday to 7pm.
A virtual event will also be held to share more information about the project for anyone unable to attend the events in person. More details about the virtual event will be shared on the project website.
SSEN said the events will allow the consideration of local feedback and the potential to recognise other route options that may have been discounted initially, or which may not have been identified.
SSEN Transmission lead project manager, Catherine Swan, said: “The new overhead line from Beauly to Peterhead is part of a wider programme of upgrades to our critical national electricity transmission network infrastructure that is key to help achieve UK and Scottish Government 2030 targets, deliver a pathway to Net Zero and secure the country’s future energy independence.
“We would like to thank everyone who shared their feedback on our initial proposals for the new overhead line between Peterhead and Beauly last year, which has played a hugely valuable and informative role in helping us move forward and refine our designs for the next steps in our project.
“We are now seeking feedback on our draft route options, with this local feedback and expertise key to help us further refine our plans and inform the more detailed alignments."
She added: “We look forward to building on the constructive engagement we have enjoyed with communities and wider stakeholders in the area and encourage anyone with an interest in the project to come along to one of our in-person events later this month, or join us at our virtual event, to share their views.”
All feedback on the proposals for the Peterhead to Beauly overhead line project will be welcomed until Friday, June 9. Although SSEN Transmission said it had "a limited period for feedback on the current proposals", it added that the project team "will always accept feedback and input throughout the development stage of the project".
The new Beauly to Peterhead overhead line is part of wider plans for major electricity network upgrades in the north. These include controversial plans for a major new pylon route from Spittal in Caithness to Beauly via Loch Buidhe in Sutherland. That work would also see the creation of new substation infrastructure in Beauly.
To learn more about the Beauly to Peterhead overhead line visit www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/beauly-blackhillock-new-deer-peterhead-400kv.
