Overview
Status: Operational Phase
About the Project
To play a part in conserving Scotland’s designated landscapes, we have sought to access a proportion of a £500m fund that is administered by the electricity industry regulator Ofgem. The Ofgem fund is only available to mitigate the visual impacts of transmission infrastructure in National Parks and National Scenic Areas (NSAs). We identified Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park as an area where mitigation of the visualisation of transmission infrastructure was warranted.
Our two Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park schemes will see approximately 7.5km of overhead line and 25 existing transmission towers near the Sloy and Glen Falloch areas of the National Park replaced with underground cables.
As part of our VISTA (Visual Impact of Scottish Transmission Assets) initiative, we will be installing a 132kV twin cable section of the existing 132kV double overhead line circuit at Sloy and Glen Falloch.
Watch this video to find out more about the project, which is now complete:
Watch a selection of short videos, designed by Story and Stage, documenting the project construction progress which allows viewers to hear from the site project team of our Principal Contractor, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, along with members of our project teams.
Glen Falloch
The Glen Falloch section will look to reduce the quantity of overhead line infrastructure from the Glen Falloch area by developing a new 4.5km 132kV underground cable section in Glen Falloch to replace the overhead line on the Inverarnan to Killin circuit.
The work includes installation of two new cable sealing end structures at either end of the cable section, and Horizontal Directional Drill (HDD) under the Network Rail owned national railway line.
Sloy
The Sloy section will look to reduce the quantity of overhead line infrastructure within Glen Sloy and the Inveruglas area by installing underground cables in place of some of the 132kV overhead lines between Sloy Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) switching station and Sloy 132kV Power Station
New Cable Sealing End (CSE) towers will be constructed at one end of each circuit as well as the installation of a joint onto the existing cable at a location near to the existing GIS building. Two HDDs will be required to cross under Inveruglas Water, and to cross under a tributary and deep ravine east of Sloy Switching Station.
Following the cable circuit commissioning, a total of 12 existing steel towers will be removed, as well as the associated overhead lines.
What is VISTA?
The electricity and gas markets regulator, Ofgem, is responsible for administering a £500m fund for GB electricity transmission owners to mitigate the impact of existing electricity infrastructure on the visual amenity of nationally designated landscapes. This is part of the RIIO-T1 Price Controls that incentives and regulates how transmission owners operate, covering the eight year period from April 2013 to March 2021.
The primary objective of VISTA is to use the Ofgem funding to deliver the maximum benefit for nationally designated landscapes in the north of Scotland transmission network. This will be achieved by delivering projects that offer significant reductions in visual impact, while avoiding unwanted economic and environmental impacts.
Community Engagement
Throughout the life of our projects, we aim to work positively with local communities and keep people informed about what we are doing. This is particularly important when we are developing a project and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.
We endeavour to take the time to discuss our proposals with local community councils, Ward Councillors, and the wider affected community and carry out engagement at key stages, listening to feedback before finalising project plans.
We will do our best to answer any questions and address issues or concerns that are raised with us.
When our project progresses into construction, we will continue working closely with the local community to ensure that our work has as little impact on the lives of those living and working in the area, and as many long term positive effects as possible.
How we’re embracing artificial intelligence (AI)
We intend to use AI to assist our experienced teams in the analysis of your feedback, so we can categorise key points raised more quickly. You can learn more about how we’re utilising AI on this dedicated web page.
Project Updates
Project updates
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Progress update at Glen Falloch and Sloy
Works at Sloy to underground approximately 7km of 132kV overhead line have been progressing well. Despite the challenges encountered while horizontal directional drilling and cable ducting through rocky terrain combined with battling the very wet weather and associated water run-off, the project has remained on track with all six circuits now energised.Dismantling of the 12 towers and associated lines began in November and is currently ongoing along with the land reinstatement works. Completion of these works is planned for Spring this year.Works at Glen Falloch to underground the 4.5km 132kV section of overhead line are ongoing with completion planned for Spring this year. The project has encountered difficult weather conditions together with the challenges of cable ducting through the rocky terrain and horizontal directional drilling under the A82 and railway line. Works are progressing well with cable installation and jointing now complete. Over the coming months, the project will prepare to energise both circuits. Once energised, the dismantling of the towers and associated lines together with land reinstatement works will commence. -
Jointing works at Sloy
To view a short video which shows the jointing works which are underway please click here. -
June 2021 Project Update
A project update can be downloaded from the Project Documentation section which highlights progress of works to date and what works are coming up. -
VISTA projects underway
The Glen Falloch and Sloy VISTA projects started earlier this year and working with principal contractor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure the team have been working collaboratively to overcome some extreme weather and rock excavation challenges to progress these works.At Glen Sloy in the Inveruglas area the main works have been excavating cable trenches and installing protective ducting ready to install the new underground cable. Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is about to commence in the first of three planned locations and will continue over the coming months. This is a minimal impact trenchless method of installing underground ducting and cabling under water courses, railway lines and roads using a surface launched drilling rig.The photo shows the installation of the cable ducting. This is carried out in sections of approximately 30 metres at a time following the trench excavation works. The ducting is installed, backfilled with a specialised sand then covered with two types of protective marker tiles before being reinstated. The team then move onto the next section to repeat this process.At Glen Falloch, assembly of pre-cast duct units and erection of fencing has taken place in preparation for the start of excavation works in late Spring. Additional bore holes have been completed in key locations to inform the final aspects of the design around the key road and rail crossing. We appreciate the support and patience of the community during these works, particularly for any disturbance caused from working through challenging areas of rock.Project Information Poster
This time of year signifies the arrival of better weather and more walkers in the area. Project information posters have been put up and located at key points around the path networks of Glen Falloch and Sloy areas. This is to remind walkers to obey signage and to remain vigilant to large vehicles and construction traffic that are also using the tracks. -
Argyll and Bute Information Sharing Webinar
On Wednesday 17th March, SSEN Transmission hosted an Argyll and Bute Information Sharing Webinar, to provide local stakeholders with an interest in future electricity network plans for Argyll and Bute the chance to join us to hear about our stakeholder-led plans for the future and receive an update on the current construction and operation activities in the region. For those who were unable to attend, we have uploaded a recording of the session which you can view by clicking on the adjacent video. -
Ofgem Funding Approved
We are delighted to confirm that our industry regulator Ofgem have confirmed to fund our VISTA submissions at Sloy and Glen Falloch in full. This brings an end to a three year consultation and development process and we would like to thank all our stakeholders who have played a key role in helping us achieve funding for this project.
Project Documents
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ssen_t-argyll-webinar-17march21-final-slides.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 3.5 MB
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vista-sloy-and-glen-falloch-project-updates.pdf
- Type:
- Date:
- 18 September 2022
- Size:
- 86.3 KB
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