Electricity substation project near Beauly faces delays over bridge safety concerns

Plans for a major electricity substation near Beauly face lengthy delays as planners call for replacement of an ageing bridge which would be used by construction traffic accessing the site.

Council transport planners are insisting on a replacement for the Black Bridge over the River Beauly before allowing convoys of heavy vehicles to access the proposed site at Fanellan.

This is expected to add at least two years to the projected five-year timeline for the substation’s opening.

SSEN had proposed a temporary solution that would route convoys of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) through the village of Kiltarlity via the narrow C1108 and U1604 roads, prompting complaints from residents over the impact on the local area. However, the council has rejected the plan on safety grounds.

SSEN says it will do what it can to mitigate the impact.

In an internal memo, the council’s planning team said: “Given the unsuitability of the routes for the nature and scale of traffic this development proposes to generate prior to the intended replacement of the Black Bridge, we formally object to this application on road safety and network management grounds.

“If the council was minded to approve the application, we recommend that any such permission includes a suitably worded condition preventing works commencing on this new substation until the Black Bridge has been replaced and is available for use by the construction traffic associated with the substation.”

David Garvie from Kiltarlity Community Council STV News

SSEN estimates the substation would take three years to build, starting in September, followed by another two years for commissioning and full energisation.

The project would involve working seven days a week from 7am to 7pm, with round-the-clock operations during the commissioning phase.

However, the required replacement of the Black Bridge is not expected to be completed until August 2027 – meaning the project could be delayed by a minimum of two years if the council’s conditions are upheld.

In a statement, an SSEN Transmission spokesperson said: “We recognise that construction activity related to the proposed Fanellan substation project may cause some local disruption. If planning consent is granted, we are committed to working with Highland Council and the local community to minimise and mitigate impacts through detailed traffic management planning.”

Kiltarlity residents, who have long voiced concerns about the potential disruption, welcomed the council’s stance.

David Garvie of Kiltarlity Community Council said: “We’re delighted by the council’s response. This is exactly what the community has been saying all along – that the proposals to take HGV and construction traffic through the centre of Kiltarlity village are simply unacceptable.

“Highland Council’s transport team said this during the scoping stage. They’re now simply reiterating that position.”