SSEN Transmission has announced that it will take forward community and landowner proposals for the next stage of Kintore-Tealing overhead line project.

The energy firm has published a report on the public consultation it undertook in March and April 2024 on the proposed Kintore to Tealing 400kV project. This 'Report on Consultation' confirms the overhead line routes that are now being taken forward to the next stage of development and includes community and landowner proposals around Careston, Drumoak and Echt.

These stakeholder-led proposals are now being progressed in parallel with other overhead line route options that were consulted on in March and April 2024. Potential overhead line alignments along the full Kintore-Tealing route are being finalised ahead of the next round of public consultation next month.

Building on previous community and stakeholder-led changes

In December 2023, SSEN Transmission confirmed it was no longer progressing plans to develop a new substation at Fiddes in the Mearns, relocating this substation to a new site, Hurlie, in Fetteresso Forest, in close proximity to SSEN Transmission's existing Fetteresso substation.

At the same time, several changes to overhead line route proposals were set out, including in the sections between Kintore and the River Dee and between Brechin and Forfar.

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These changes were as a direct result of ongoing and constructive engagement with local communities, landowners and wider stakeholders, demonstrating the effectiveness of SSEN Transmission's consultation.

Feedback on potential overhead line alignments will be sought from community members and other stakeholders at the next series of public consultation events for the project, which are scheduled to take place in September and October.

Calum Grant, Senior Development Project Manager for the Kintore-Tealing project, said: "As we work to deliver the critical national infrastructure that is required to deliver energy security and net zero, we've been undertaking one of the biggest public consultations that Scotland has ever seen.

"The feedback and local insight that we've received so far has been invaluable and has already led to major changes being made to our plans.

"As we publish our latest Report on Consultation, summarising feedback and decisions taken following the March and April engagement events, we can confirm we are taking community and landowner led alternative proposals around Careston, Drumoak and Echt to the next round of consultation, which will take place next month.

"We would encourage anyone who has an interest in the Kintore to Tealing project to come along to these events to provide their feedback, which will be carefully considered as we continue to refine our plans."

Public consultation on overhead line alignments will take place in the following venues between 2pm and 7pm unless stated otherwise. All consultation material, including maps of overhead line alignments, will be published and issued ahead of these events.

• 23 September – Tealing Village Hall, Tealing 

• 24 September – Royal Hotel, Wallace Suite, Forfar 

• 25 September – Memus Hall, Memus 

• 26 September – Brechin City Hall, Brechin 

• 30 September – Menmuir Hall, Menmuir 

• 1 October – Kintore Public Hall, Kintore (1.30-6.30pm) 

• 2 October – Echt Hall, Echt 

• 3 October – Drumoak, Durris & Crathes Bowling Club, Drumoak 

• 7 October – Drumlithie Village Hall, Drumlithie 

• 8 October – Stonehaven Town Hall, Stonehaven 

• 9 October – Dickson Hall, Laurencekirk 

• 10 October - Durris Kirkton Hall, Durris 

For more information on the Kintore-Tealing project, including the latest Report on Consultation, please visit www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/projects/project-map/kintore-tealing-400kv-ohl-connection/