- Highland Social Value Charter in action
- Part of 1,000 homes across north of Scotland unlocked by grid upgrades
The latest project to be announced as part of SSEN Transmission’s housing strategy is a partnership with The Highland Council in a major refurbishment initiative to bring long-term empty homes in Wick back into use.
In an industry first, SSEN Transmission published its strategy in autumn 2024 pledging to support the delivery of 1,000 homes across its north of Scotland transmission area to help alleviate the region’s housing challenges. This proposed housing is connected to the business’s projects to upgrade the electricity grid in the north of Scotland to help meet the country’s drive for energy security and clean power.
Workers’ accommodation will be required to deliver the grid projects, should they be consented, and SSEN Transmission is aiming to create a legacy in the communities that will host its workforce by delivering housing to support local need when the projects are completed.
In Wick, a total of 18 properties located in the town’s Wellington Street and Nicolson Street, which have been long-term vacant, are set to be brought back into use as modern, energy-efficient homes.
Last November, SSEN Transmission became the first business to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter, in which among a range of commitments the business pledged to support the development of 500 permanent homes in The Highland Council area. Along with projects last month in Beauly, Muir of Ord and Drumnadrochit, the Wick project means that more than 140 Highland homes have already been announced.
Led by SSEN Transmission – which is investing more than £1m to bring the Wick properties up to a high standard – the project focuses on delivering high-quality, sustainable refurbishments that meet current energy efficiency standards: helping to reduce carbon emissions while improving living conditions.
The properties will undergo modernisation, which includes the installation of new kitchens, bathrooms, heating systems and windows to ensure they achieve high standards of comfort, safety and energy efficiency.
The refurbishment works will be delivered by GMR Henderson Builders Ltd, a long-established contractor based in Wick with over 30 years’ experience across building, renovation and refurbishment projects throughout the Highlands.
Martin Associates, Chartered Building Surveyors, are providing their professional expertise in supporting and overseeing the effective on-site delivery of works.
Combined, their appointment supports local employment and ensures that investment remains within the Highland economy, contributing positively to the successful delivery of the project.
Initially, the refurbished homes will be used to accommodate SSEN Transmission workers, for the delivery of proposed major infrastructure project in the area over the coming years – including the Banniskirk Hub, which involves a new Spittal area 400kV substation and HVDC converter station, and the Spittal-Loch Buidhe-Beauly 400kV overhead line. This temporary use ensures the properties are put to immediate and practical use, supporting local economic activities.
Once infrastructure work is complete, the business will return all 18 upgraded homes to The Highland Council, for allocation to local tenants.
The refurbishment project is expected to commence on-site in early 2026.
SSEN Transmission has previously made housing announcements for communities in Highland, Aberdeenshire, Moray, Western Isles and Angus.
Sandy Mactaggart, Director of Offshore Delivery at SSEN Transmission, said, “We are committed to delivering a positive legacy in Caithness from the grid upgrades needed to achieve energy security and clean power for the country, and permanent housing is a key part of that. As the first business to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter, today’s announcement for Wick shows how our commitments are being turned into bricks and mortar.
Communities in Caithness and across the north of Scotland need good quality jobs to help sustain people and families in their local communities, and homes for them to live in. Upgrading the region’s electricity grid will help deliver both of these vital objectives. A lack of housing for local people is a big issue in many of the communities we serve, and our housing strategy demonstrates how we are working in partnership to develop imaginative proposals that will deliver new homes and can act as a template for other developers.”
Raymond Bremner, Highland Council leader, said, “Our Highland Social Value Charter is about ensuring that all areas of the Highlands benefit fully from the opportunities presented by renewable energy investment. Should developments get the go ahead, we want developers to build in a lasting legacy for our communities. Bringing long-term empty homes in Wick back into use is a positive step, and by making this agreement it strengthens ambitions to deliver more homes and meet the region’s housing challenge.”