Communities in Peterhead and the surrounding area are being encouraged to submit their applications for a share of the new Eastern Green Link 2 (EGL2) Peterhead Local Fund, with the Expression of Interest deadline set for Thursday, 12 June.

This significant community benefit fund, delivered as part of the UK’s biggest ever electricity transmission project, will provide a total of £2,159,444 to communities in and around the "Blue Toon" over a five-year period. The funding is specifically designed to support projects and initiatives across several priority areas identified through local community input.

EGL2 is a 525kV, 2GW high voltage direct current (HVDC) subsea transmission cable running from Peterhead to Drax in Yorkshire, a joint venture between SSEN Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). The launch of this fund marks the latest progress on the £4.3 billion project, which is due for completion in 2029.

The EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund includes a large project fund, which will provide £410,294 annually for five years. Priorities for this fund, shaped by community consultation, include:

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Education, employment, and skills

Protection and enhancement of the natural environment (including land and sea, natural habitats, and biodiversity)

Transport and connectivity (including path/cycle networks and community transport)

Community infrastructure and regeneration

Heritage and culture

Community action planning and capacity building

In addition to the main fund, a separate micro-grant scheme will see five local community councils each award £4,319 annually over five years. These micro-grants, up to £500, are intended to provide immediate support for local community benefit projects, such as those benefiting youth groups and other third sector organisations in the Peterhead area.

Ricky Saez, EGL2 Project Director from SSEN Transmission, commented: “With construction underway on EGL2, the launch of our EGL2 Peterhead Local Fund is another significant milestone in this project that will bring economic benefit to Peterhead and surrounding communities, throughout the construction phase and beyond. We have had strong interest in the fund since its launch in April, and urge anyone considering applying to the fund to send their Expression of Interest before the deadline on Thursday, 12 June. Similarly, we are asking anyone interested in joining the local panel overseeing funding decisions to submit their interest by Friday, 30 May.”

SSEN Transmission is also actively recruiting local people to join a panel that will oversee funding decisions, with an application deadline for panel members set for Friday, 30 May.

Saez emphasised that the fund has been "shaped by input from the local community to prioritise projects that can have a transformational impact, underlining our determination that EGL2 delivers a strong legacy for communities and for the country." He urged local people to engage and share ideas to ensure the funding meets the community's needs.

Further information on the Eastern Green Link 2 Peterhead Local Fund, including application details, is available on the SSEN Transmission website.