We have made significant changes to our proposed Cross Border Connection project and are calling on residents in the Scottish Borders to join the discussion and feedback on the new plans.
The project, which would become a vital part of the electricity transmission network, would see a new power line running north-south from a proposed substation in Gala North to a point at the Scotland-England border, south of Newcastleton.
At the end of last year, the transmission owner for central and southern Scotland held its first consultation on initial proposals for the project.
Based on feedback received from local people during the first round of consultation, changes have made to the route – including extending the overall length by moving the line further to the west. This will reduce the overall impact of the route, including any impact on The Swires.
A section around Craik will now be housed in areas of commercial forestry to reduce the visual impact of the line for communities before it heads east towards Dodburn reducing impact on Penchrise Penn and Stobs Camp.
The route will then turn south again and has been moved further away from Hermitage Castle and running to the east of Newcastleton and onward to the Border.
Key concerns of the community centred around the potential impact on properties, the local tourist economy, local heritage and the environment. The modified route has attempted to address the concerns of local people whilst still delivering a critical part of the UK’s electricity system.
Ewan Borthwick, Senior Project Manager at SP Energy Networks, said:
“We are grateful to everyone who engaged with us during our first consultation on this project at the end of last year. We have taken this feedback onboard and made changes to our plans that we now want to discuss with residents in the Borders.
“The electricity network in Great Britian is aging and will soon no longer be able to provide the resilient and reliant network we need as we move towards and all-electric, green future.
“The Cross Border Connection project is part of the biggest rewiring of the electricity grid since it was first built. Delivering this project will strengthen energy security and help increase the resilience of the electricity network all across the country.”
The Cross Border Connection team is set to begin another stage of consultation to discuss these changes. Thousands of leaflets with freepost feedback forms are being mailed to homes along the route with community drop-in events being held across the area. Details are below;
- 3-7pm Wednesday 26th March, Yarrow Feus Hall
- 3-7pm Thursday 27th March, Kirkhope Parish Hall, Ettrickbridge
- 3-7pm Monday 31st March, Newcastleton Village Hall
- 3-7pm Tuesday 1st April, Teviothead Village Hall
- 3-7pm Wednesday 2nd April, Forman Memorial Hall, Roberton
The consultation period runs from 24 March to 2 May 2025.
The project is a joint development between SP Energy Networks and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) with SP Energy Networks developing the section of the connection in Scotland, and NGET delivering the connection in England. The two parties are working closely and coordinating the crossing at the border with NGET’s proposals in England at a very early stage of development.
Further information is available on the Cross Border Connection webpages.