SSEN Transmission has announced the launch of its first community benefit fund, dedicated to supporting projects in areas near new transmission infrastructure.

The East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund offers grants of up to £5,000 for projects located along the 170km route between Kintore in Aberdeenshire and north-east Clackmannanshire.

This fund is part of a wider initiative by SSEN Transmission to invest over £100 million in community benefit funds across the north of Scotland.

These works cover the following areas:

• Aberdeenshire

• Angus

• Perth and Kinross

• The north-east of Clackmannanshire, terminating at Blairingone, near the boundary between Scottish Power Energy Networks and SSEN Transmission's operating areas

Following consultation with key local stakeholders, the fund aims to support projects that benefit community health and wellbeing – for example, walking groups, mental and physical health support groups, befriending services, and sports clubs.

The East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund is the first of four preliminary funds* dedicated to communities located close to new and upgraded transmission infrastructure.

These funds, encompassing onshore and offshore transmission projects, have been developed in consultation with key stakeholders to ensure local needs are supported – with priority given to projects located closest to infrastructure works.

The preliminary funds are expected to be followed by more local funds aligned to SSEN Transmission's £20bn investment in new transmission infrastructure in the north of Scotland that is supporting national energy security and net zero ambitions.

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Subject to UK Government guidance and approval from the energy regulator Ofgem, SSEN Transmission anticipates the value of future community funds benefiting the north of Scotland through its Pathway to 2030 programme could be more than £100m.

Christianna Logan, SSEN Transmission's Director of Customers and Stakeholders, said: "We are delighted to launch our East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund as the first of four preliminary local funds that are dedicated to communities located close to our new and upgraded transmission infrastructure.

"Our expectation is that these will be followed by many more local funds in the coming years, which could amount to over £100m in funding for communities across the north of Scotland.

"Community engagement is a key aspect of our approach in developing our local funds, with our East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund focusing on health and wellbeing as an issue identified by local people as a key priority.

"Each fund will be unique to the areas where our projects are based, and decisions over funding applications will be made by an independent panel of local people that best represent the interests of communities.

"We hope to be able to announce the launch of our other preliminary local funds next year, and we look forward to receiving applications from organisations keen to work with us to improve their local community."

A webinar will take place from 7-8pm on Wednesday 11 December where people can learn more about the East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund and ask questions. SSEN Transmission is also looking for local people to apply to join the independent panel overseeing the fund by the application deadline of 31 January. For more details on the webinar, and to apply to join the panel, please visit www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/communitybenefit

*In addition to the launch of the East Coast 400kV Overhead Line Upgrade Local Fund, SSEN Transmission will launch its three other preliminary local funds in the first half of next year, covering the following projects:

• Eastern Green Link 2 – The Eastern Green Link 2 project will connect Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and Drax in North Yorkshire via an electrical cable link.

• Shetland HVDC Link – This 260km subsea link connects Shetland to the mainland just north of Wick, securing power in Shetland for future generations.

• Inveraray - Crossaig 275kV Overhead Line – The upgraded line in Argyll and Bute replaces the original 1950s line which had reached the end of its operational life.