ABERDEENSHIRE Council’s Infrastructure Services Committee, ISC, will make their determination tomorrow on SSEN’s proposals for a substation at Fetteresso Forest.
Through their subsidiary Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Plc, SSEN are seeking full planning permission for the construction and operation of a 400 kV air insulated substation at Hurlie along with associated works. The 292ha site sits 4.9km west of Stonehaven.
National Development
The Committee faces a challenging decision. The substation forms part of Scotland’s renewable energy infrastructure deemed a national development in the National Planning Framework 4, NPF4.
The substation and the associated Kintore to Tealing 400 kV Overhead Line Connection are required to export the electricity generated by offshore wind farms which are now under development following the 2022 Scotwind round of licencing – this was the world’s largest commercial offshore wind leasing round.
Policy 11 of NPF4 adds further weight with a presumption in favour of all renewable energy projects.
Fierce local opposition
Meanwhile, the application generated 2,318 representations – eight in support, 2,308 objecting and two
neutral. One of the representations in objection is a petition containing over a thousand signatures (please note this number cannot be verified at the moment as the planning portal is under system maintenance).
Stonehaven and District Community Council, SDCC, object to the proposals – they have voiced concerns about the cumulative impact of the substation along with future developments linking to it such as the Bowdun Wind Farm substation and others in the pipeline but not yet under application.
SDCC have also flagged their dissatisfaction at SSEN’s consultation process.
Are we being offered enough social benefit?
The report now before the ISC, which is chaired by Stonehaven Councillor Alan Turner, contains input from both a pre-determination hearing in November and consideration by the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee earlier this month.
Concern was raised by the Kincardine and Mearns Area Committee over the lack of maximisation of socio-economic benefits and the provision of community wealth building. Thus far nothing would suggest SSEN would offer any more than its standard £530,000 for the substation.
But is this the maximum possible? Following extensive efforts by Highland Council officers, the infrastructure giant recently signed their Social Value Charter for Renewables Investment. This sits outside the planning process, but sets expectations.
When Highland councillors approved the Banniskirk Hub last November, these expectations were met with SSEN offering over £1 million in community benefit.
You can listen to the debate and determination
The Infrastructure Services Committee meets tomorrow, Friday January 30 at 10.15 am. The full report is available online along with links to hear the discussion.
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