SSEN to relocate Fiddes substation and change route of Mearns powerlines

SSEN have altered plans for 'super pylons' stretching 66 miles through Aberdeenshire and Angus after a consultation.

The proposals for the 180ft pylons spanning from Kintore in Aberdeenshire to Tealing in Angus sparked a huge campaign from residents along the route.

Groups such as Save Our Mearns and Angus Pylon Action Group expressed worry about the electricity lines disrupting the countryside.

Following the consultation which ended in July, SSEN has announced the 120 acre substation planned for Fiddes will be moved to a new site in Fetteresso Forrest, which will be closer to the existing substation there.

Due to the relocation of the substation, the overhead line route has also been changed in some areas.

Proposed overhead lines in the Fiddes area will be removed after concerns were raised about the impact they would have on the famous Lewis Grassic Gibbon's childhood home.

Gibbon's book 'Sunset Song' is considered one of the most important Scottish novels of the 20th century.

In Forfar, the overhead lines will be moved further away to reduce interaction with the River South Esk after SEPA voiced flooding impact concerns.

Westhill, Peterculter and Loch Skene will also see less of an impact after the line between the River Dee and Kintore has been placed further to the west.

Additional consultations are to be held in 2024.

However, whilst this may seem like good news campaigners say this isn't enough - they believe the problem is "just being moved elsewhere".

Kate Matthews co-founded the Save Our Mearns group when the plans initially surfaced.

She said: "We recognise that if we are going to reach our net zero targets then transition needs to be improved.

"However, this insistence on overhead lines is so damaging to the people who live along these routes. Not just because of the view - this is damaging people's livelihoods, it's going to knock up to 40% off people's homes which means negative equity for some. It means not being able to sell for some.

"There is a total lack of understanding and recognition of these impacts on people and that needs to be addressed."

Due to the changed route, Kate's house will now be affected by the overhead lines in Auchenblae.

Tracy Smith, who lives in Mearns and co-founded the group alongside Kate said: "What we've seen is quite tokenistic changes to the overhead line routes in some of the other areas and for parts through the Mearns area.

"Other areas are going to be affected just as they were before. They're still planning on running overhead lines through prime agricultural land.

"We will continue to raise awareness of SSEN's plans and oppose plans for overhead lines until we actually have a result from them."

The company say the powerlines are needed to help meet climate targets and energy security.

West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Andrew Bowie said: “Mearns communities will be delighted by SSEN’s change of heart over the planned Fiddes substation.

“They have listened to feedback from myself and thousands of residents that Fiddes is the wrong site. This is a very positive first step, a significant change which addresses numerous concerns — but it does not address them all. Further concerns remain along the route."

Commenting on the publication of the Report on Consultation, Calum Grant, Senior Project Manager, said:

“We would once again like to thank all those stakeholders who took the time to constructively respond to our consultation, with this feedback instrumental in informing the changes to our proposals we are announcing today.

“The overhead line routes we are now taking forward to route alignment and our proposed substation locations seek to balance environmental and technical constraints alongside minimising community impacts.

“Recognising the strength of feeling amongst some individuals and communities, we have worked extremely hard to identify an alternative substation site to Fiddes, as well as several changes to our previously consulted on preferred overhead line routes, to help reduce community, environmental and cultural heritage impacts.

“We now look forward to further engagement with local communities and wider stakeholders in advance of our next round of public consultation in early 2024 and remain committed to work constructively with all stakeholders to help further inform the development of this critical national infrastructure.”