Overview
Status: Early Development
About the Project
The proposed West of Beauly Asset Replacement Projects include a total of four substations requiring upgrading at Deanie, Culligran, Aigas and Kilmorack. The need for the projects is being driven by operational requirements and asset condition assessments of the existing substations serving the hydro power stations at each location.
The existing substations were built in the 1960s to connect the hydroelectric generation assets to our transmission network. The deterioration in condition of the substations poses a risk to the reliability of electricity supply.
The following elements are anticipated requirements for each of the four new substations:
- Design and construction of a new offline substation compound with 132/11kV transformer. These will be separate but linked substations
- A new 132kV circuit breaker and earth switch Control building housing 11kV switch gear and control protection equipment
- Landscaping and biodiversity requirements
- Permanent access to the sites
- Upgrade of existing and new access tracks, temporary site compounds, and construction laydown areas where required
3D Visualisation of the Project 2022
In partnership with specialist company 3DW, we created this video which allows stakeholders to visualise the new replacement substations at Deanie, Culligran, Aigas, and Kilmorack. It has been created to increase the transparency of our plans and was on display at the public consultation events held in October/November 2022. Due to stakeholder feedback received following the initial events, alternative site locations for Aigas and Kilmorack were presented at the October 2023 event.
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 proposal and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.
We endeavour to take the time to discuss proposals with local community councils, encourage engagement from the wider community and listen to the feedback we receive.
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
Featured updates
Featured updates for this project
Project updates
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West of Beauly Asset Replacement Projects
Our planning applications for the proposed new Aigas and Kilmorack substations seeking permission for these asset replacement projects have been submitted to The Highland Council.
You can view our applications in full and submit formal comments using Reference No 24/02830/FUL for Aigas and Reference No 24/02831/FUL for Kilmorack on The Highland Council Planning Portal View planning applications | Planning permission | The Highland Council
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West of Beauly Asset Replacement Projects
Our planning applications for the proposed new Deanie and Culligran substations seeking permission for these asset replacement projects have been submitted to The Highland Council.
You can view our applications in full and submit formal comments using Reference No 24/01234/FUL for Culligran and Reference No 24/01235/FUL for Deanie on The Highland Council Planning Portal View planning applications | Planning permission | The Highland Council
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Feedback Period Closed
Following our public events held in October the feedback period is now closed. We would like to thank all interested parties and stakeholders who submitted their feedback following the events held in October. Our proposals for Culligran, Deanie and Aigas Substation sites will form 3 separate planning applications to be submitted early 2024.
We will be holding one further pre-application feedback public event for our proposed Kilmorack substation early 2024. We will also be seeking letters of support following the information shared about the VISTA Glen Strathfarrar project.
You can download the consultation booklet from the Project Documents tab on the webpage.
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October 2023 Consultation Events
We are inviting the public and interested parties to further drop-in public events which will detail our final proposals for Culligran and Deanie substation sites as part of the statutory Pre-Application Consultation. We are also introducing, consulting and seeking feedback on the newly selected sites for Aigas and Kilmorack following the public feedback provided last year. In addition, proposals about the Glen Strathfarrar VISTA (Visual impact of Scottish Transmission Assets) project will be shared and the project team will be available to answer any questions and discuss the details of these proposed projects. You can download the consultation booklet from the 'Project Documents' tab.
These events are being held on the following dates:
Monday 23rd October, 5pm-8pm at Cannich Hall, IV4 7LJ (Deanie, Culligran and Glen Strathfarrar VISTA)
Tuesday 24th October, 11am – 1pm at Cannich Hall, IV4 7LJ (Deanie, Culligran and Glen Strathfarrar VISTA)
Wednesday 25th October, 2pm-7pm at Kilmorack Hall, IV4 7AQ (Aigas and Kilmorack)
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Autumn 2022 Consultation
Following the events held in June the project team have assessed comments and feedback and now have further information to share about the detailed site selection of these asset replacement projects.
SSEN Transmission invite and encourage community members and other interested parties to attend our drop-in consultation events which are taking place in the coming weeks. These are the first of two consultations as part of the statutory Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) which is required for major planning applications. The second and final PAC events will be held early 2023.
Our project team will be in attendance to discuss plans for these proposed projects, answer questions and gather feedback at these events which are taking place on;
- Monday 31st October, 3pm-7pm at Kilmorack Hall
- Tuesday 1st November, 3.30pm-6.45pm at Cannich Village Hall
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July 2022 - Feedback Period Closed
SSEN Transmission would like to extend thanks to all members of the public, local stakeholders and other interested parties who took the time to provide feedback on our proposals for the Beauly Cluster Asset Replacement projects. The feedback period for providing comments following our consultation events held in June 2022 has now closed. All responses received are being reviewed and assessed by the project team and will help to inform the designs. Further consultation events will be held later this year -
June 2022 - Feedback Period Open
The project team would like to extend thanks to all members of the public and interested parties who took the time to come along to our public consultation events that were held in Kilmorack and Cannich Halls on the 22nd and 23rd June and to those that visited our virtual online consultation and submitted questions to the team via the live text chat function on the 28th June. We hope you found the consultations informative and beneficial. If you were unable to join any of the events, all the content that was presented on our proposals can be found within the project documentation tab of this website. We encourage those with an interest to share their views and feedback on our proposals by completing a feedback form which is on the project documentation tab. The feedback period is open until 1700 hrs, Thursday 21st July 2022.
Documents
PAC Reports
Consultation Documents
FAQs
FAQs
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