Black Isle community discovers planned Fanellan substation transformers could be transported through its area
SSEN Transmission has submitted a planning application for a 400kV substation and converter station project at Fanellan.
Knockbain Community Council has now been made aware of a possible proposal to land barges carrying large transformer units at a temporary quay in the Beauly Firth.
They would then be loaded on to a ‘road train’ in a nearby public car park, which would be closed temporarily, and transported as abnormal loads through the village and up the A9 to Tore roundabout and onwards to the site via Beauly.
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Community council chairman John Stott said he only been alerted about the possible transport arrangements via North Kessock by someone from another community after SSEN lodged its planning application with Highland Council.
“This will have a major effect on the residents of North Kessock yet we have had no information about it and have not been included in the planning consultation,” he posted on social media.
He is now trying to find out more details and will report back to the community.
“I find it a bit off that we have not been consulted given residents will clearly be affected by any movement of transformers or big lorries coming through the village.
“We have not had the courtesy of being told this could happen.
“We have no idea of the quantity of lorries. We have no idea of the timescales. W have not been given any information whatsoever.”
SSEN Transmission says the proposed Fanellan substation would play a major role in supporting national energy security and clean power targets.
But the planned project is proving to be controversial with opponents saying it would amount to industrialisation in a rural area while various concerns, including the volume of traffic during construction, have been raised in nearby communities.
In response to the concerns relating to North Kessock, a spokesperson for SSEN Transmission said: “A small number of deliveries of transformers – which are large electrical components requiring a specialist haulier to enable them to be safely delivered to site – are planned for this project, and every effort will be made to ensure their impact is minimal.
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"The exact route for the future delivery of the transformers has still to be determined.
“Deliveries are not expected until 2028, and options are being reviewed by SSEN Transmission and our specialist haulier.
“We plan to engage all relevant stakeholders and communities to help reduce any disruption and ensure the transformers can arrive at the new Fanellan Substation safely.”
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