The Proposal
Preliminary surveys have identified that modernisation works are required on the existing YW 275kV double circuit OHL route within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. As a result, works are necessary to reduce power outages and thereby maintain electricity supply.
Solutions include:
- Ground re-profiling;
- Increasing the tower heights at the end of the span; and/or
- Replacing the crossarm system.
The works description provided below focuses on those areas of work that are located within Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park and subject to the Section 37 consent. In general, the works shall entail:
- Access to the sites;
- Creation of temporary work areas;
- Implementing the solution to removing the safety zone infringements; and
- Restoration
Once the works are completed the environment will return to normal (i.e., existing conditions).
A more detailed description of the project can be found in the Scoping Report, linked in the Project Documents tab.
Have your say
Our consultation period will run between 26th February and 26th March 2025.
SPEN attaches great importance to the effect our work may have on the environment and local communities. We want to hear what local people think about our plans, to help us develop the project in the best way.
Please come along to our public exhibition, where you can see our plans in more detail and ask questions of the project team.
| Date | Venue | Time |
26th February 2025 | Kinlochard Village Hall Kinlochard, Stirling, FK8 3TL | 14:30 - 18:45 |
Complete the online feeback form.
What happens next?
Comments received during this consultation will be taken into consideration alongside findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment to help identify the final solution for the modernisation of the YW Route.
We are planning to hold a second round of consultation events in 2026 to share how we have taken on board your comments and seek feedback on our final proposals before we submit a Section 37 application to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit to seek permission for the upgrades
FAQ's
Who are SP Energy Networks?
SP Energy Networks is part of the ScottishPower Group. We are responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in central and southern Scotland, and, through SP Manweb, the distribution network in North Wales and part of North West England. Our role is to maintain, operate and invest in our network to secure a safe, reliable, and economic service for current and future consumers.
What statutory obligations does SP Energy Networks have?
Our statutory obligations are set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and in our transmission licence. We must develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical transmission system in accordance with security and quality of supply standards. We must offer to connect new power generators to the system and, make sure any work we do keeps disturbance to the natural and built environment and the people who live in it, work in it or enjoy it to a minimum.
Who regulates SP Energy Networks?
We are regulated by Ofgem (Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets), and independent national regulatory body. Further information about Ofgem is available on:
www.ofgem.gov.uk
Calling Ofgem's Consumer Affairs team on 020 7901 7295
Emailing consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk
Why is the YW Route Modernisation Project needed?
Much of the electricity transmission network in Scotland is between 50 and 100 years old. It has grown and evolved to meet industrial needs and serve the expanding population, but the network in central Scotland will soon be at full capacity – unable to accommodate all the clean, green renewable energy we will all need in future.
This transition in generation sources means Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) Transmission, the electricity transmission owner for the north of Scotland, needs to uprate and reinforce the Argyll transmission network from 132kV to 275kV operation. In this region, the YX route connects to the existing YW 275kV double circuit OHL route at Dalmally, Argyll & Bute which connects to the Windyhill substation in Milngavie. The YX and YW route are owned by SPEN.
The YX and YW 275kV double circuit OHL routes were constructed by the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board between 1961 and 1963 as a rural supply network. Both OHLs are supported primarily on steel lattice towers and cover a distance of 8.1km and 76.57km respectively, across rural exposed terrain. To ensure the security of supply to the wider national electricity network, there is a need for these OHLs to be modernised.
What exactly are you proposing?
Preliminary surveys have identified certain topographical infringements of the safety zones below specific spans (i.e., sections between towers) are present on the YW 275kV double circuit OHL route between Dalmally and Windyhill. As a result, works are necessary to reduce power outages and thereby maintain electricity supply. Solutions to remove the infringements are:
- Ground re-profiling;
- Increasing the tower heights at the end of the span; and/or
- Replacing the crossarm system.
The proposed development description provided below focuses on those areas of work that are located within LLTNP and subject to the Section 37 consent.
In general, the works shall entail:
- Access to the sites;
- Creation of temporary work areas;
- Implementing the solution to removing the safety zone infringements; and
- Restoration.
How much will the project cost?
It is early days, and we won’t be able to cost the project fully until we have a definite proposal.
Who will pay for this project?
Ultimately, the cost of our investment in the electricity system is partly borne by consumers through electricity bills, so we are obliged to be economic and efficient. We recover our costs through transmission charges levied by National Grid.
The amount we invest in our networks and the amount we are able to recover is agreed with Ofgem, which is committed to working with industry, governments and consumer groups to deliver a net zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers. You can find out more about Ofgem here.
How are you consulting local people?
We are planning two rounds of public consultation before we submit our planning applications to to Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
Consultation date:
Date | Venue | Time |
26th February 2025 | Kinlochard Village Hall. | 14.30 - 18.45 |
We are holding two public exhibitions where people can find out more about our plans and ask questions of the project team.
If you are not able to attend the public consultation event, there are other ways you can provide feedback:
Fill in a feedback form online.
Postal address for feedback forms:
YW Modernisation Project Manager,
Land and Planning Team
Scottish Power Energy Networks,
55 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow,
G32 8FA.
Email us at: ywroute@spenergynetworks.co.uk
If your question is not answered within these FAQs, you can email the mailbox at: ywroute@spenergynetworks.co.uk
Can you tell me more about Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs)?
SPEN follows the advice of independent experts, and all overhead lines comply with UK Government Policy, which is based upon adoption of the 1998 guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). This policy was reaffirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement in October 2009.
The guidelines state that the levels of field required to achieve compliance are as follows:
Electric Field – 9kV/m
Magnetic Field – 360 microtesla
We will be undertaking an electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) assessment as part of the EIA for this project and will confirm that these levels have been met.
There has been a lot of research into whether electric and magnetic fields have any effect on health, and over £300m and many decades has been invested in investigating this issue around the world. Research still continues but the balance of scientific evidence to date suggests that EMFs do not cause disease.
We have dedicated EMF resources to assist the public and to provide further information, including, if appropriate, home visits and measurement of electric and magnetic fields. Copies of the leaflet “EMFs – the facts” were available at our public consultation events. We also directed people to the website www.emfs.info for further information.
Electric and Magnetic fields – The Facts is a document produced by the UK electricity industry.
Further information can be found at www.emfs.info