THE Scottish Government has approved a planning application for the replacement of the existing overhead line between Fort Augustus and Skye, despite Highland Council objecting to the plans.
SSEN's "Skye reinforcement" project seeks to replace the existing, single circuit overhead line which is reaching the end of its operational life, according to the company.
SSEN has said the line needs to be strengthened to maintain electricity to homes and businesses in Skye and the Western Isles, as well as renewable energy developments which are set to rely on the new line to carry electricity into the national grid.
However, campaigners have said extensive surveys were carried out on SSEN’s "preferred route" and no others without informing communities.
It has also renewed calls against a large camp for up to 350 workers which will move to Skye during the construction of the new electricity line, adding to the population of the town of around 1000 people for an estimated five years.
Food and facilities company Sodexo is seeking permission from Highland Council for a camp for SSEN workers in Broadford, Skye.
To meet the required increased capacity of the replacement line, steel structures will be required from Fort Augustus to Edinbane, extending the existing steel structures where they currently terminate at Broadford; with wooden poles remaining from Edinbane to Ardmore.
Around 15km of the circuit will be underground as it passes the Cuillin Hills and another 9km where it connects to Fort Augustus substation.
The planning submission was submitted to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit in September 2022.
Rob McDonald, managing director of SSEN Transmission, said: “We welcome this positive decision. The Skye reinforcement project is crucial to maintaining local network reliability and will play an important role in helping the UK achieve its energy security and clean power ambitions.
“This project and our wider investment programme will also be a major driver of jobs and economic growth locally and across the north of Scotland, bringing substantial opportunities for communities and businesses.
“We trust that the Scottish Government’s new guidance, setting out a 52-week determination period, will see future projects progress in line with the acceleration needed to achieve the country’s clean power mission.
"As we now move to the delivery phase of the project, we are committed to working constructively with local communities and businesses to minimise and mitigate construction impacts, alongside maximising the economic, infrastructure and job opportunities this investment will bring."
The Skye Wind Farm Information Group said they were "deeply disappointed" to learn that the Scottish Government granted planning permission, with Dr Andrew Robinson stating: “The Highland Council objected to the plans in November 2023. As the local planning authority, such an objection would normally trigger a public inquiry, but, instead planning consent has been given and the council’s objection ignored. This is a failure of democracy."
A second camp has also been proposed by Balfor Beauly. It is believed the accommodation could see another 350/400 people in the town.
Robinson added: "The power line brings with it pylons, quarries, trenches and giant substations at Edinbane and Broadford. The two workers camps proposed either side of Broadford village, housing up to 800 workers are only needed to build the power line and the substations.
"These should have been included in the original planning paperwork for the OHL but instead have been salami sliced into separate applications.
"Whilst SSEN told us the existing line is old and needs replacing, their new power line will be much larger, at a size only necessary to take the electricity from all the wind farms proposed for Skye.
"Other options to build a smaller scale line, replacing the existing infrastructure and allowing some extra capacity for smaller scale community owned wind farms were never properly considered.
"This decision today could be seen as a presumption from the Scottish Government that all the wind farms proposed for Skye will be built.”
