SSEN Transmission seeks planning consent for Emmock substation and overhead line upgrades

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SSEN Transmission has submitted a planning application to Angus Council for the proposed Emmock 400kV substation near Tealing, while seeking consent from the Scottish Government for the upgrading of two associated overhead lines.

These projects are part of a wider upgrade to the transmission network in the north of Scotland, helping deliver high voltage, clean renewable power for connection to homes and businesses across the UK – helping meet national energy security and clean power ambitions.   

The proposed Emmock 400kV substation will be an outdoor, Air Insulated Switchgear (AIS) substation located approximately 1km northwest of the existing 275kV substation at Tealing.  

The substation will connect to the proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV overhead line, while also providing connections for two existing overhead lines (Alyth – Tealing and Tealing – Westfield), which will be upgraded from 275kV to 400kV operation.  Section 37 consent applications have been submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit in respect of these upgrades.  

The Emmock substation site was identified following an extensive site selection exercise, which included seeking feedback from the community and other stakeholders while balancing technical and environmental considerations. Community feedback has helped shape the substation design, reducing the platform level and orientating features to reduce visibility.  

The proposals have also been subject to an independent Environmental Impact Assessment which has made recommendations on how effects on the community during construction and once operational can be minimised. These safeguards will be included as part of any future planning permission from Angus Council.

Calum Grant, Senior Development Project Manager, said: “SSEN Transmission would like to thank those who have provided feedback as part of our pre-application consultation events, which have been key in helping us shape our proposals. 

“Investing to upgrade our electricity transmission network is crucial if we are to achieve the country’s energy security and clean power objectives, and it’s also a major driver of jobs and economic activity locally and across the north of Scotland.

“We now look forward to working with Angus Council, the Scottish Government, the local community, and other key stakeholders as part of the consenting process.” 

More information on the Emmock 400kV substation and associated overhead line upgrade projects is available via our project webpages:

Additional guidance on planning applications  

The planning application for Emmock substation and all supporting materials are available to review on Angus Council’s planning portal, click here to access the application. Angus Council has extended the deadline for comments on the application to 31 January 2025.  The applications for the associated Section 37 overhead line upgrades are available via the following links:

Members of the public have until 31 January 2025 to respond to the Section 37 consent process.