SSEN Transmission has launched a new consultation and series of public information events to inform the ongoing development of the Kintore-Tealing 400kV overhead line project.

The material includes SSEN Transmission's potential alignment for the overhead line, presented through maps and visualisations, with alternative alignment options in a number of locations based in previous community feedback.

This information, along with all other relevant material for the Kintore-Tealing project, such as the Report on Consultation material, can be accessed here: Kintore-Tealing 400kV OHL Connection - SSEN Transmission (ssen-transmission.co.uk)

Feedback to the project alignment consultation can be submitted until 21 November 2024, including via a portal on the SSEN Transmission website.

The consultation documents and local events are also being promoted by SSEN Transmission on its social media platforms.

Interested parties can attend the drop-in community events, where a 3D model of the proposed infrastructure can also be viewed, to discuss the plans with the project team and share their views.

The overhead line routes that are now being taken forward to the next stage of development include community and landowner proposals around Careston, Drumoak and Echt, which builds on previous community and landowner-led proposals.

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

Feedback on potential overhead line alignments is now being sought from community members and other stakeholders at the upcoming consultation events for the project.

Calum Grant, Senior Development Project Manager for the Kintore-Tealing project, said: "We take our responsibilities to local engagement and transparency extremely seriously and invite members of the public and all interested parties to study these documents, come along to the local engagement events happening in your area in the next few weeks, and give us your views.

"We in turn pledge to give these views careful consideration – the additional local insight we receive at such events is enormously helpful, as we refine our plans and deliver the critical national infrastructure that is required to deliver energy security and net zero for the country.

"The Kintore to Tealing consultation has already resulted in significant changes to our proposals, including alternative overhead line routes and the relocation of the previously proposed new substation at Fiddes to a new proposed site in Fetteresso Forest.

"Following consultation that took place earlier this year, we are now actively considering overhead line alignments proposed by community representatives and landowners around Careston, Drumoak and Echt – further demonstrating our willingness to balance community feedback alongside technical and environmental constraints."

Lesley Dow, SSEN Transmission's Head of Communities, said: "Over the last 12 months, across our Pathway to 2030 programme, at SSEN Transmission we've invited nearly 300,000 people to our consultation events, holding some 220 events and public meetings which were attended by more than 10,000 people.

"As part of this, we have received and analysed over 12,000 written responses in what we believe is one of the biggest ever such listening exercises across the north and north east of Scotland."