Scottish and Southern Energy Networks (SSEN) has suffered a number of setbacks in its plan to remake its distribution network to help achieve Net Zero. Four of its proposed substations have been refused by local authorities, and concerns have been raised about the overhead lines connecting them.

A new substation at Carnaig near Bonar Bridge was refused by Highland Council in December 2025. This formed part of the proposed Spittal-Loch Buidhe-Beauly 400kV overhead line.

Tealing substation north of Dundee was refused by Angus Council despite planning officers’ recommendation for consent. Hurlie near Stonehaven, also part of the Tealing to Kintore Upgrade Project (TKUP), was narrowly rejected by Aberdeenshire Council, also against the planning officers’ recommendation.

There are further problems for the utility in its ambitious plan to deliver a Network for Net Zero – Pathway to 2030.

Areas of concern

The overhead line between these substations is also in difficulty, as more than 11,000 objections have been lodged. Angus Council formally opposed the scheme; Aberdeenshire did not, though it raised a number of areas of concern. SSEN requested the Scottish Ministers to restrict the terms of the public inquiry to Angus Council’s objections and the Scottish Ministers ordered a public inquiry over only that part of the scheme across Angus. Following representation, that has been reversed and the terms of the inquiry cover the whole route.

The line runs through some of the best farmland in Scotland and there is concern that the present design may mean modern farm machinery cannot be safely used underneath it. SSEN continues to omit from its planning submission health & safety and agriculture in its environmental impact assessment, as initially agreed with the Scottish Government. As part of the Public Inquiry, however, the Reporters have ordered SSEN to answer a series of hard questions on the safety and practicality of TKUP in respect of modern farm machinery.

The Tealing and Hurlie substations that were refused planning permission are integral to SSEN’s TKUP project and there are substantive arguments for any public inquiry dealing with the whole project, rather than dividing the projects into substations and the overhead line.

Planning for Fanellan substation near Beauly was refused in early February by Highland councillors after concerns were raised over visual, environmental and local impacts arising from the proposal. That decision went against the planning officers’ recommendation that the development be approved despite nearly 2,000 objections.

Further substations

Councillors raised concerns regarding almost every level of planning policy and questioned planning officers on their decision to recommend that the substation be granted consent.

The Fanellan proposal was a key part on the proposed 400 kV overhead line network between proposed hubs at Beauly and Peterhead. The Beauly - Peterhead line involves further substations at Coachford near Blackhillock, Greens at New Deer and Netherton near Peterhead.

In May 2025 SSEN announced that, following detailed ground investigation works which revealed technical challenges at the site, it would no longer be proceeding with the construction of the proposed substation at Coachford. The overhead line is the subject of a Section 37 planning application before the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit. Given Moray Council has lodged a formal objection to the scheme, it is likely to proceed to public inquiry.

Community engagement

The scale of Net Zero projects required, including to service offshore wind farms and export the electricity generated to Germany and England, has led to local objections. Government pressure on local authorities to approve proposals despite community objections is leading to council members rejecting planners’ advice.

Objectors have been emboldened in recent years by the ease of making public representations by email, now also enhanced by the growth of AI. From 19 January, the Energy Consents Unit stopped accepting public objections by email regarding energy infrastructure projects, which must be submitted either through its online portal or by post. Promises of community engagement and official Net Zero ambitions are proving uneasy bedfellows.

Community funds and offers to build affordable housing may do little to offset the concerns of property owners who, affected by the proposals, have no ability to claim compensation for any loss in their property values.

SSEN’s Pathway to Net Zero, estimated at £20bn in 2023, is likely to cost considerably more, given these setbacks further increasing electricity prices.

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