SSEN Transmission hosts BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards Scotland launch

SSEN Transmission was proud to host the Scottish launch event for the 2019 BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards yesterday (Wednesday) at our office in Glasgow.

The BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards, led by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA) celebrates the contributions of the construction industry towards biodiversity and environmental best practice.

Yesterday’s launch event in Scotland invited interested organisations, including Architects, Contractors, Developers and Ecologists to submit their project for consideration by the 2019 judging panel.

As a multiple 2018 BIG Biodiversity award winner for our biodiversity credentials at Thurso South substation in Caithness, SSEN Transmission was keen to host this year’s launch and showcase their award winning project to inspire potential 2019 applicants.

The construction of the new 275/132/33 kV Thurso South substation formed a key part of SSEN Transmission’s flagship Caithness-Moray project, which was energised and commissioned in January 2019. The Thurso South project was crowned ‘Overall Winner’ of the BIG Biodiversity Challenge 2019, including ‘Project of the Year – Medium/Large Scale’, and ‘Pollinator’ Awards following works to support local biodiversity improvements; creating a high-quality habitat for the Great Yellow Bumblebee population. A case study of the Thurso South Biodiversity project can be accessed here.

Richard Baldwin, SSEN Transmission’s Head of Environment, who gave a presentation on Thurso South at yesterday’s event stated:

“As a responsible developer, and as part of our businesses’ wider sustainability ambitions, we are keen to do our bit to encourage biodiversity and environmental leadership within construction and the built environment, so we were delighted to host yesterday’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards Scotland launch event.

“It’s hugely rewarding to be recognised for our environmental achievements by an organisation like CIRIA and we welcomed the opportunity to showcase our 2018 award wins and network with likeminded organisations.”

For further information on the Thurso South project, please visit: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/thurso-south-substation/

For further information on the BIG Biodiversity Challenge Awards Scotland, please visit: https://www.ciria.org/CIRIA/Home/CIRIA/default.aspx?hkey=b9b32704-f151-4cb8-83fc-c9da82a10893