SSEN Transmission has announced an additional public consultation event in Lewis to showcase updated designs for the proposed Balallan Switching Station. The move follows a decision to reduce the overall size of the development area for the site.

The pre-application consultation (PAC) is scheduled to take place on Thursday 2 April, from 4pm to 7pm, at the Kinloch Historical Society Community Hub in Balallan. This session serves as a vital stage in the planning process, allowing local residents to examine the proposals and engage with the project team before a formal planning application is submitted.

The project involves the construction of a 132kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) switching station. Located off the A859 near Loch Stranndabhat, the facility is designed to connect the Muaitheabhal (Uisenis) Wind Farm to the wider grid. It will manage power flows between circuits to enable the transmission of renewable energy across the island and support local electricity demands by linking to the Lewis Hub and the proposed Stornoway Grid Supply Point.

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During the event, the project team will display finalised designs, including technical visualisations and layout drawings. They will also provide details on the environmental and technical factors that influenced the current plans.

Lyle Cairns, Project Manager at SSEN Transmission, commented: "In developing our proposals for Balallan Switching Station, we've worked to balance community and stakeholder feedback with technical and environmental requirements. Since our initial consultation events in August and October 2025, we have made significant changes to the development boundary for the site, which has now reduced in size to better reflect the needs of the project."

Mr Cairns added:

"With the site design now finalised, we're holding this additional pre-application consultation event to update the community on these changes, and to invite any further feedback prior to the submission of our formal planning application. We encourage anyone with an interest in our proposals to come along and speak to our project team."