SSEN Transmission has confirmed it will submit its consent application within two weeks for the Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV overhead line, a project it describes as vital for unlocking homegrown low-carbon power and meeting UK and Scottish clean energy goals.
The proposed line is part of the company’s £22bn Pathway to 2030 programme, one of the largest ever private investment drives in Scotland, designed to upgrade the electricity transmission network across the north.
If approved, the scheme is expected to bring significant economic benefits, including around £35m in community benefit funding, new jobs, housing commitments and a long-term operational depot in Caithness.
SSEN Transmission says the project is critical to connecting renewable generation to the grid, helping secure a cleaner, more affordable electricity system for generations to come.
The development includes 173km of new overhead line and three new substations near Spittal, Loch Buidhe and Beauly, alongside high-voltage convertor stations at Spittal and Beauly to support wider subsea link projects.
Since 2022, the company has carried out one of the largest public consultation exercises ever seen in the north of Scotland, hosting more than 50 events and meetings to gather feedback.
Alison Hall, Director of Development, said the application marks a key milestone.
“Upgrading our electricity transmission network is a major driver of jobs and economic activity,” she said.
“Our proposals are shaped by extensive community engagement and a commitment to balancing environmental, technical and economic considerations.”
Economic analysis by BiGGAR Economics suggests SSEN’s full £31.7bn programme could support up to 17,500 jobs in Scotland, 8,400 of them in the north, adding £7bn to the national economy.
Community benefit funding across the north could exceed £100m, with £530,000 for each substation or convertor station along the route.
The project is also linked to plans for at least 1,000 new homes in the north of Scotland, including 400 in the Highlands, creating a housing legacy after construction is complete.
SSEN Transmission’s workforce has grown from 400 in 2019 to over 2,500 today, with further expansion planned to meet the scale of work required.
A new operational depot in Caithness will support 20 permanent jobs, which the company says will contribute to the local economy and help address population decline.
Under new Scottish Government rules for priority transmission applications, the consent decision is expected within 52 weeks of submission.
Once lodged, the application and environmental impact assessment will be made publicly available online and at key locations along the route, with formal notices placed in local and national press.
A public consultation period will then follow before the government makes its final determination.
