New Western Isles Link Project takes another step forward as planning notice submitted

• New Proposal of Application Notice (PAN) covers all proposed construction work areas for Arnish Moor Converter Station project

• Area also includes section outlined for environmental enhancement as part of project

The project which will see the Western Isles linked to the national electricity transmission network for the first time has taken another step forward with the submission of the next phase of planning notices for the construction phase of the project. 

The submission of the Proposal of Application Notice (PAN), which marks the first formal stage in the statutory planning application process, follows on from the recent news about the new alternative site near Macaulay Farm on Arnish Moor which will house the new high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station and AC substation for the Western Isles link project.   

Like all developers, SSEN Transmission is required to submit a PAN to appropriate planning authorities for large infrastructure projects to provide a general development area, known as the PAN boundary. 

As well as the actual proposed substation site footprint and access roads on the Arnish Moor, the boundary includes all other potential site requirements, including temporary site compounds, material storage, site access and parking.  
The new proposed site for the Lewis Hub is located south of the Macaulay Farm area.   

The wider Red Line Boundary (RLB) also includes areas which have been identified for environmental enhancement, which encompasses some of the moorland close to the previous potential converter station site at Creed North.  
 
This has been included in the PAN as a potential site on which the project’s commitments to improve and enhance the environmental impact of the site could be met.   
 
Further details around the new proposed site as well as the potential environmental enhancement areas will be shared during a Pre-Application Consultation event* taking place on the 5^th of September.  
 
Colin Bell, Lead Project Manager at SSEN Transmission, said: 

“The submission of the PAN application is the next step in allowing us to progress with plans for the new converter station on Arnish Moor, which will pave the way to us delivering the Western Isles HVDC Link.  

“As well as the actual substation site footprint, the PAN boundary includes all other potential site requirements, for example temporary site compounds, material storage, site access and parking which are integral to us delivering the project. 

“Many of these requirements are temporary during the construction phase and will be permanently removed upon completion of the project. As such, the boundary doesn’t represent the permanent footprint of the substation itself but indicates the potential full development area.   

“We’ve also included an area near Creed North which has been identified for potential environmental enhancement as part of the project’s biodiversity net gain commitments, and for wildlife and habitat surveys to take place as part of the overall environmental impact assessment.   
 
“This remains under development and will be subject to further design and refinement following the forthcoming consultation events, with the first to be held in September.  

“We remain focused on minimising temporary construction and permanent operational impacts on residents and committed to ongoing consultation with the local community as we continue to develop this project. We welcome feedback at our upcoming consultation.” 

 
*The first statutory pre-application consultation event will take place 3pm – 7pm on Thursday 5^th September at the Cabarfeidh Hotel where residents will have the opportunity to discuss the plans further.