We need to extend Glenlee substation to accommodate the extra equipment needed to connect and operate the new overhead lines proposed as part of the Kendoon to Tongland Reinforcement (KTR) Project.
We have been planning and consulting with local communities on our proposals for Glenlee as part of the KTR Project for three years, and have considered their feedback when designing the extension for Glenlee substation.
However, the work at Glenlee needs to be completed before we build the new overhead lines, so in September 2019 we submitted a planning application specifically for Glenlee substation before, and separate from, our application for the KTR Project. We applied to Dumfries and Galloway Council for consent for the Glenlee substation extension under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997, as amended, and the council approved our application, subject to conditions, in August 2020.
Because Glenlee substation operates at 132kV, our proposed extension is classed as a national development in terms of National Planning Framework 3. This means we needed to carry out pre-application consultation and submit a design and access statement with our application.
We consulted on our proposals in March and April 2018, when we were asked if we could build the extension further away from local properties. We investigated potential alternatives, and in October 2018 we published an ‘Appraisal of Alternative Substation Options’ Report, which confirmed our proposed site should be taken forward. Since then we have been working closely with neighbouring residents to find ways to minimise disturbance to them and their properties.
We also decided to carry out a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of our proposals, even though this is not a statutory requirement. The EIA includes potential construction impacts, so we extended the ‘red line boundary’ on our plans to include temporary as well as permanent works, and held a further round of consultation in June and July 2019.
You can find our Pre Application Consultation (PAC) Report and EIA Report, along with all documents submitted with our planning application, on the Project Documents page of this website.