SSEN Transmission and The Highland Council have entered into a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at accelerating nature restoration and delivering biodiversity net gain across the region. The accord follows SSEN Transmission becoming the first business to sign the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC) at the end of 2025, underscoring a shared commitment to community, economic and environmental benefits for the Highlands.

The MoU sets out a collaborative, front‑loaded approach to compensatory planting, peatland restoration and wider biodiversity improvements, aligned with the delivery of essential electricity transmission network upgrades. By prioritising strategic scale and pace, the partnership seeks to secure habitat enhancements in tandem with infrastructure works and alongside local partners, ensuring a lasting positive legacy for both communities and the natural environment. The agreement also confirms a process to verify technical suitability and compile a list of appropriate sites to support biodiversity projects across the region.

Richard Baldwin, Head of Consents and Environment at SSEN Transmission, said: "Signing this Memorandum of Understanding marks an important step forward in our work our partnership with The Highland Council. It will ensure that our investment in the transmission network not only supports the transition to clean energy but also delivers meaningful, lasting benefits for the region's natural environment and its communities. By working together, we can enhance biodiversity at scale, restore vital habitats, and help ensure that the Highlands' unique natural heritage thrives for generations to come."

-- Advertisement --

Chair of Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: "The MoU provides a framework to support the delivery of compensatory planting and biodiversity enhancement schemes as part of the planning for new infrastructure projects. Environmental schemes such as these are important for our communities as they ensure that biodiversity is improved, which benefits communities and results in landscape-scale improvements throughout the Highlands. We have a duty to ensure that developers deliver schemes that contribute positively to our natural habitats and ecosystems and that if new developments are approved, there is a lasting legacy for our Highland communities. Both the MoU and the Highland Social Value Charter align with one of the Council's strategic priorities to make the most of the financial and environmental opportunities arising from the huge renewable energy potential in the Highlands and I'm pleased that this is another positive step forward with SSEN Transmission."

Under the MoU, a clear framework is established for early identification and endorsement of compensatory planting, peatland restoration and biodiversity initiatives, with early alignment to planning policy and explicit oversight from The Highland Council.

Governance will be strengthened through a dedicated Steering Group, including Council representatives, meeting regularly to review proposals, ensure transparency and oversee technical assessments.

SSEN Transmission will fund, deliver and manage all endorsed schemes, maintain allocation records, provide routine monitoring reports and update GIS mapping to track environmental outcomes. The Highland Council will review submissions, participate in the Steering Group and offer ongoing reporting to its Economy and Infrastructure Committee.

The agreement is positioned as a positive step for the energy transition in the Highlands, embedding environmental enhancement, resilience and long‑term community benefit as core considerations during vital grid upgrade works.