Spittal to Beauly Overhead Electricity Line Application

Spittal to Beauly 400 kV OHL - Install, operate and keep installed 173km of new 400 kV overhead electricity line, supported on steel lattice tower structures, between proposed new substations at Banniskirk (ND 15905 56823) in the area of Spittal, and Fanellan (NH 48534 43208) in the area of Beauly, with a connection via a proposed new substation at Carnaig (NH 65053 97458) near to the existing substation at Loch Buidhe, in the area of Bonar Bridge; associated permanent diversion works to 18km of existing 132 kV and 275 kV overhead electricity lines, including the temporary diversion works, and ancillary development and associated works. This case will be determined by the Energy Consents Unit. Please visit Energy Consents Unit using reference number ECU00006008

The Highland Council wishes to advise all interested parties in the above application, that the Council’s consultation response will be submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU) within the deadline the Council has been given - by 7 November 2025.

Once our response has been submitted, this will be made publicly available via the ECU’s website and placed on the Council’s ePlanning portal, under reference 25/03311/S37.

We will then consider the application at a joint meeting of North and South Planning Applications Committee where we will decide our detailed comments.

 Whilst provisional dates for meeting are in progress, these are yet to be confirmed.

Like other applications made under Section 37 of the Electricity Act, owing to the Council being a statutory consultee and the application to be determined by Scottish Ministers, there will not be a pre-determination hearing conducted by the Planning Authority and therefore, other interested parties will not have the right to speak to the forthcoming Committee meeting.