Following changes made to plans for the Beauly to Peterhead 400kV overhead line project, including the removal of the proposed Coachford substation, members of the public are being invited to attend engagement events later this month in Cairnie and Keith to hear more about the changes and share feedback.
In May, following extensive site surveys, SSEN Transmission announced that it had identified a series of engineering and construction challenges with the previously proposed Coachford site to the south of Keith, and that it would no longer be proceeding with the substation as part of the project.
The business will now host events in Keith and Cairnie to share details of the changes and the proposed alignment for the overhead line in the area where Coachford was proposed. The alignment will be presented using maps and visualisations with handouts available and digital versions to be made available on the project webpage too.
The events, in which all interested parties are welcome to attend, will take place on:
- Tuesday 24 June from 3 to 7pm at the Cairnie Memorial Hall in Cairnie; and
- Thursday 26 June from 3 to 7pm at the Longmore Community Hall in Keith
Feedback on the proposals for the overhead line project can be provided using forms available at the events, the online form on the project webpage or by email to the project team at BBNP@sse.com. The feedback window closes on 18 July, with a consent application for the proposed development to be submitted to the Energy Consents Unit in the early Autumn of 2025.
Kirsty McNamara, Community Liaison Manager for the Beauly to Peterhead project, said:
“Despite finding challenges at the proposed Coachford substation location as a result of our ground investigation works, we’ve identified a solution that allows the objectives of the Beauly to Peterhead 400kV project to be maintained and future network development delivered. This will help achieve clean power and energy security targets for the country, alongside significant economic benefits and employment opportunities locally and across the north of Scotland.
“We’re now looking forward to getting back out to engage with members of the community, and anyone else interested, on the proposed solution that we are preparing to submit for consent later this year.”