A major planning application to build a 173km overhead electricity line from Spittal to Beauly is now under consultation, with Highland Council due to submit its response by early November.
The proposed 400kV overhead line would run from a new substation at Banniskirk near Spittal to another near Beauly at Fanellan.
A third substation is also planned at Carnaig, close to Loch Buidhe and the existing Bonar Bridge network.
The route would see the installation and operation of a new high-voltage line supported by steel lattice towers, along with associated diversion and development works.
Eighteen kilometres of existing 132kV and 275kV lines would also be rerouted as part of the wider infrastructure changes.
The application has been submitted under Section 37 of the Electricity Act and will be decided by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
Highland Council has confirmed it will submit its formal consultation response to the Energy Consents Unit by Thursday 7 November.
Once submitted, the Council’s response will be made publicly available through both the Energy Consents Unit’s portal and Highland Council’s own ePlanning service, under reference 25/03311/S37.
Please visit Energy Consents Unit using reference number ECU00006008.
The plans are expected to be considered at a joint meeting of the North and South Planning Applications Committees, where the Council will finalise its position.
While dates for this meeting are currently being arranged, they have not yet been confirmed.
Because the Council is acting as a statutory consultee — and the final decision lies with Scottish Ministers — there will be no pre-determination hearing held locally.
This means members of the public will not have the right to speak at the committee stage of the Council’s internal review process.
The Energy Consents Unit continues to receive representations directly, and members of the public can view the application using reference number ECU00006008.
