This week’s decision by Highland Council’s South Planning Applications Committee follows two years of development and extensive engagement with local communities and stakeholders on the project’s design.

The new substation will connect into the existing Beauly to Denny line, which is proposed to be upgraded from 275kV to 400kV operation.  It will comprise a new outdoor 400/132kV Air Insulated Switchgear substation located in the Fasnakyle area, southeast of Cannich and near Tomich.

The project forms part of Perth‑headquartered SSEN Transmission’s £29 billion planned investment to 2030 to transform the electricity network in the north of Scotland, enabling the homegrown low‑carbon power needed to meet clean energy and energy security targets. The need for the project has been independently assessed and approved by the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and energy regulator Ofgem.

The Bingally substation development will also deliver substantial local benefits, including new housing, jobs and supply chain opportunities, alongside more than £500,000 in direct community benefit funding.

SSEN Transmission recently became the first business to sign the Highland Social Value Charter, committing to deliver a detailed set of benefits for Highland communities as part of its grid upgrade investment. This includes £1.8bn of contracts for local businesses, more than £200m of spending on roads and bridges, and support for the development of 500 new homes – including over 120 new-build homes in Drumnadrochit, Beauly and Muir of Ord that will initially accommodate the workforce delivering major network upgrades before becoming available to local residents.

With consent now granted, construction of the substation is expected to begin in summer 2026.

Alison Hall, director of development for SSEN Transmission, said: “Bingally substation will play a key role in supporting Scotland and the UK’s clean energy and energy security ambitions. Investment in the electricity transmission network is a major driver of jobs and economic activity, and we are already seeing the positive impact our projects in the Highlands are delivering through new jobs and housing, providing a major boost to the region’s economy.

“With the creation of new jobs within SSEN Transmission and our supply chain partners, as well as proposals for community benefit funding and our housing legacy commitments, our projects will deliver a lasting legacy in communities across the north of Scotland, including in the Highlands.

“As a key element of the proposed upgrade of the Beauly to Denny overhead line from 275kV to 400kV operation, the Bingally substation will help build a cleaner, more secure and more affordable electricity system for generations to come.

Steven Miller, development portfolio manager, SSEN Transmission, added: “(This) decision marks the culmination of a detailed development process where we listened closely to the local community and worked to strike the right balance between environmental considerations and technical requirements.

“We’d like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation events, whose feedback has played a vital role in shaping the final proposals. We will continue to work constructively with the community throughout the project’s lifetime, in line with our commitment to being a good neighbour and delivering a positive legacy.”

The Bingally substation is a key part of our plans to invest around £29bn in the period until March 2030. This represents one of the largest private investment programmes in Scotland and will act as a major driver of jobs and economic growth across the country.

Independent economic analysis, peer-reviewed by consultancy BiGGAR Economics, forecasts that if fully delivered, SSEN Transmission’s investment programme could support up to 17,500 jobs in Scotland, including 8,400 in the north of Scotland, and add up to £7bn to the Scottish economy, with £3bn in the north of Scotland alone.

Reflecting the significant expansion of the transmission network across the north of Scotland, SSEN Transmission continues to grow its workforce. Employee numbers have increased from around 400 in 2019 to over 2,500 today, with plans to recruit around 600 new roles in 2025/26.

Following the UK Government’s Community Benefit Guidance for new electricity transmission infrastructure, over £100m of community benefit funding is expected across the north of Scotland.