Creagh Dhubh-Dalmally overhead line planning application

Creag Dhubh to Dalmally - Project Visualisations

SSEN Transmission’s Section 37 application for a new overhead electricity transmission line from a proposed new substation at Creagh Dhubh, connecting to the existing Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN) transmission line to the south east of Dalmally village, has now been validated by the Scottish Government.

The Creag Dhubh–Dalmally project is part of a wider strategy to upgrade the capacity of the main electricity transmission network across Argyll from 132kV to 275kV.  The network upgrade is required to enable the growth in renewables across the region and transport that power to areas of demand. 

The Argyll and Kintyre 275kV strategy will support UK and Scottish Government renewable and net zero targets.  This includes the recently announced British Energy Security Strategy, through enabling homegrown, low carbon electricity generation to help meet the country’s future energy needs, reducing dependence and price exposure to volatile global wholesale gas markets.

The submission of the proposed Creagh-Dhubh to Dalmally overhead line application follows extensive consultation over several years which has led to significant changes in the project’s design taking account of feedback from the local community and wider stakeholders. 

Feedback on SSEN Transmission’s initial proposals to connect to the existing SPEN Dalmally substation highlighted concerns about the visual impact on local properties and landscape impacts as the line crosses the Strath of Orchy and head of Loch Awe.   As a result of this feedback, SSEN Transmission undertook extensive work to explore two alternative options, which included undergrounding the line as it passes the Strath of Orchy and connected to Dalmally substation.

The significant risk of flooding in the area meant the undergrounding option presented significant challenges with the risk of pollution to Loch Awe during both the construction phase and any future works on the cable.  This is due to the presence of peat in the area and pollutants in the materials that would be required to stabilise an underground cable.

As a result of these environmental risks, SSEN Transmission ruled this option out and instead, its proposed route avoids the need to connect to Dalmally substation, addressing a number of concerns that stakeholders had raised about the visual and cumulative impacts of connecting to the existing network infrastructure at Dalmally substation.

By taking an alternative route to that initially proposed, the number of properties within 500m of the line has reduced by 85%, from 33 to just five.  All properties in Dalmally are around 1km from the line, with the closest property to the line along its route at a distance of around 450m.  The number of transmission towers, which will be at an average height of 50m, has reduced from 49 to 48.

The route of the line has also been carefully designed so that views of the infrastructure are filtered and screened by forestry and topography where possible, with much of the alignment backdropped against woodland and hills to reduce its visual impact.

Russell Stewart, Lead Project Manager, said:

“Submission of our Section 37 application marks a key milestone for our Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Strategy and follows extensive consultation over several years which has led to significant changes in the project’s design following feedback from the local community and wider stakeholders. 

“Whilst we acknowledge there will inevitably be an impact from the development of any new infrastructure, we firmly believe we have struck a fair balance between responding to community and stakeholder feedback against key economic, environmental and technical factors we have to consider.  This includes minimising landscape and visual impacts where possible; protecting the local environment and avoiding national designations in the area; and minimising costs to the GB consumer who will ultimately pay for this critical national infrastructure through their energy bills.

“We now look forward to the Scottish Government’s determination of our proposals and remain committed to continue to work constructively and openly with the local community and wider stakeholders as we take forward this project of local and national significance, which is key to support the transition to net zero emissions.”

The Section 37 application, which has been published on both the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit website and SSEN Transmission’s project page, will shortly be subject to a period of public consultation, where stakeholders can make representation to the Scottish Government for consideration as part of the Scottish Government’s determination of the planning application.

SSEN Transmission is committed to update all stakeholders on its project distribution list and will also publish adverts in local and national press when this period of consultation opens. 

For more details on the Creag Dhubh–Dalmally project, including all consultation material; a frequently asked questions document; a 3D model flythrough of the proposed route, which includes photomontages to visualise the line from key points along its route; and the Section 37 application, please visit the dedicated project webpage at:

https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/creag-dhubh-dalmally-275kv-connection/

To view the Section 37 application on the Scottish Government’s website, please visit:

https://www.energyconsents.scot/ApplicationDetails.aspx?cr=ECU00002199

SSEN Transmission is planning to host an information event at Dalmally Village Hall from 2pm-7pm on Thursday 16 June to allow the local community and wider stakeholders the opportunity to review the planning application details and engage with the project team.  This will include photomontages from key local landmarks as well as SSEN Transmission’s 3D model, which allows a 3D visualisation of the overhead line and substation to be viewed from anywhere in the local area.

The proposed new substation at Creagh Dhubh will be assessed separately by Argyll and Bute Council, who are the determining authority for all Town and Country Planning applications, which covers all new substation developments.

This application was recently submitted to Argyll and Bute Council and is currently going through the validation process.  Once this is complete, the application will be made public by both Argyll and Bute Council and SSEN Transmission and at this point, stakeholders can formally comment on the application.  SSEN Transmission will also update all stakeholders on its distribution list as soon as the application is public.