Beauly-Denny power line through Highland landscape ‘had no impact on house prices’, claims new Scottish energy report
Worried residents’ concerns over the impact of a massive power line on their house prices were unfounded, energy chiefs have claimed.
Scottish Renewables made the claim this week after a report it commissioned found the controversial Beauly-Denny electricity transmission line “has had no adverse impact on house prices located near [the] route” since it became operational in 2015.
The report, by BiGGAR Economics, instead said that interest rates, the cost-of-living crisis and the housing supply were instead factors which “affected house prices most”.
It said that housing prices near the line have instead “mirrored local housing markets, where house prices have increased since 2015”.
Extending over 130 miles from Beauly, north of Inverness, to Denny near Falkirk, the Beauly-Denny line passes through the four council areas of Highland, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, and Falkirk, with substations and related grid infrastructure at each end. It was the first 400kV overhead line in the north of Scotland.
The line proved highly controversial though, with residents decrying the route through the likes of the Cairngorm National Park, while residents in Beauly long complained about the notorious “Beauly buzz” coming from the substation infrastructure after developers opted to keep it outdoors instead of housing it inside buildings as has been the case in some locations elsewhere.
The claims in the new report also come amid major planned pylon and power line upgrades in the Highlands as the region prepares for further on and offshore renewable developments in the future.
Major new lines, including one from Spittal in Caithness and down through Sutherland and on to Beauly, have sparked similar opposition to the Beauly-Denny project.
BiGGAR Economics is a leading Edinburgh-based consultancy that provides independent economic analysis and advice to organisations across Europe.
Simon Cleary, Energy Transition Director at Biggar Economics, said: “BiGGAR Economics works with clients in both the residential property and energy transition sectors. Analysis of the Beauly-Denny transmission line represented a great opportunity to understand the relationship between grid infrastructure and housing, a topic that is frequently raised as a potential concern.
“Our analysis found that housing market trends along the Beauly-Denny power line have mirrored those of the wider local authorities. Macroeconomic factors have been the principal drivers of house price growth and the power line has had no noticeable adverse impact on house prices.
“Our analysis includes the opinions of estate agents in the area who have first-hand experience of selling houses along the route. While there may be varying opinions on pylons from both buyers and sellers, there was limited experience of the Beauly-Denny power line having any impact on house prices.”
Stephen McKellar, Head of Grid & Networks at Scottish Renewables, said: “Since 2015, the Beauly-Denny electricity transmission line has been playing an important role in powering Scotland and the UK with clean, green renewable energy.
“Demand for electricity is set to increase by 50% in the next decade and double by mid-century so effective electricity transmission is crucial if Scotland is to take advantage of its world class renewable energy resources.
“Plans to invest in Scotland’s electricity network will support thousands of new green, high-value jobs while also providing thousands more in new and existing renewable energy projects, from wind farm technicians to civils contractors and hotel staff.
“While it is inevitable electricity infrastructure will be visible, transmission companies always seek to minimise the impact of these projects where possible, so we are pleased that the Biggar Economics report is clear on the Beauly-Denny power line having no impact on house prices or the ability of homeowners to sell properties.”
