Main construction compounds at Bower Quarry near Halkirk and Blackhills near Peterhead are now operational, marking a key step for SSEN Transmission's Spittal to Peterhead subsea cable project.

The two sites will act as the principal hubs for the onshore cable installation, supporting works along the route in the months ahead. Each compound provides office accommodation, welfare facilities and storage for SSEN Transmission teams and supply chain partners.

Around 50 staff are currently based at the Bower Quarry facility, spanning SSEN Transmission, principal contractor NKT and Caithness-based contractor John Gunn and Sons.

In the south, 23 permanent staff from SSEN Transmission, NKT and Aberdeenshire-based contractor Nicol of Skene are now stationed at Blackhills. Local recruitment will continue across both locations as activity ramps up, with the project creating opportunities for regional contractors to grow their workforces.

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The Spittal to Peterhead scheme will deliver a 166km, 2GW High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) subsea link between Sinclair's Bay in Caithness and Rattray Head near Peterhead, connecting into the new Banniskirk Hub in Caithness and Netherton Hub in Aberdeenshire.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is under way at Rattray Head, where a 1.7km drill is being constructed to create one of the UK's longest power cable landfall connections. The technique enables the cable to be installed in pipes beneath the coastline, minimising impacts on the local environment and surrounding area. Work at Rattray Head is expected to continue over the next 12 months, with similar HDD activities at Sinclair's Bay scheduled to begin in late 2027.

Niall Macleod, Project Director for SSEN Transmission's Spittal to Peterhead HVDC subsea link, said: "The establishment of our main compounds in both Caithness and Aberdeenshire represents an important milestone for the Spittal to Peterhead project.

"These facilities will act as the operational centres for our teams and supply chain partners, including local businesses John Gunn and Sons and Nicol of Skene, as we progress construction of this critical infrastructure project. With both sites now in place, we're well positioned to move forward with the next stages of delivery."