Caithness substation will bring ‘unprecedented degree of industrialisation’

A huge new substation will bring “massive construction upheaval for decades” and “an unprecedented degree of industrialisation in the heart of Caithness”, it has been claimed.

The area occupied by the proposed Banniskirk Hub near Spittal will be larger than the village of Halkirk, according to a resident who is opposing it.

Kathrin Haltiner, who lives at Westerdale, sets out her concerns in a letter to the John O’Groat Journal, published today.

It comes after SSEN Transmission submitted a planning application to Highland Council for a 400kV substation and high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station.

The Banniskirk Hub will connect to the controversial proposed 400kV overhead line between Spittal and Beauly, and to the existing Spittal 275kV substation. It will include a new outdoor 400kV air insulated switchgear (AIS) substation and an HVDC converter station that will help transport offshore renewable energy to “demand centres” throughout the UK.

Ms Haltiner, who is originally from Switzerland and moved to Caithness seven years ago, questions why SSEN Transmission is advertising the application in newspapers published outside Caithness and notes that the only hard copies being displayed are in Bonar Bridge and Inverness.

She asks: “Why this secrecy? What has SSEN to hide?

“One thing they try to hide is the size of this development. The area of the site is larger than [the village of] Halkirk and the fenced-in area which excludes roads and bunding and detention ponds and overhead line towers will be almost half of the size of Halkirk.

“Another thing they try to hide is that this substation will not be the end of development for the area. This substation is the endpoint for the massive 400kV overhead line in planning with towers of up to 70m, more than twice the height of existing towers, and for a subsea link to the south planned from Sinclair’s Bay.”

She warns: “For residents of the wider area this means massive construction upheaval for decades. It means an unprecedented degree of industrialisation in the heart of Caithness.”

Documents submitted as part of the application show a site boundary amounting to 89.4 hectares.

In a project overview, SSEN Transmission stated that most of the site comprises rough grassland used for cattle or sheep grazing, with a small area of coniferous woodland along the western edge, bordering the A9.

SSEN Transmission said that throughout the consultation process it had been “clear on the scale of development, with 3D visualisation models, detailed drawings and dimensions included as part of our consultation materials”.

Senior development project manager Rebecca Gay said: “The Banniskirk Hub is a key component of our proposals for a new 400kV overhead line between Spittal and Beauly, supporting the delivery of high-voltage, clean renewable power and helping meet Scotland and the UK’s energy security and clean power ambitions.

“In developing our proposals, we have sought to achieve the best balance from an environmental and technical perspective while taking account of the views of the local community, with whom we have consulted throughout the development of the project proposal.

“We would like to thank all those who provided feedback as part of our pre-application consultation events which have been key in helping shape our proposals. We now look forward to working with Highland Council and stakeholders as part of the planning submission process.”

Two statutory pre-application events for the Banniskirk Hub were held this year, in March and June. SSEN Transmission says there are no further consultation events planned.

Prior to the pre-application events a site selection consultation took place in February 2023, with a follow-up report in December that year.

One of the objections posted on the Highland Council website, from Elaine Hodgson, warns of “environmental damage to the land” and “potential harm to wildlife” as well as the impact on the health and wellbeing of people in rural communities.

Ms Hodgson adds: “These industrial developments will change the landscape and rural way of life forever for the benefit of profits for multinational companies based outwith the UK.”

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