Following extensive consultation with local communities and stakeholders earlier this year, SSEN Transmission has confirmed the preferred location for its proposed new ‘Muir of Pert’ 275kV substation.
The decision is set out in a newly published Report on Consultation, which summarises feedback received on the preferred site, situated just over 4km north-east of Brechin, which was identified as ‘Site 2’ during the initial round of consultation, as well feedback on an alternative option (site 16) under consideration near RAF Edzell, and explains how the feedback has been used to inform the next stage of the substation project’s development.
Consultation, which included four face-to-face public events in Edzell, Stracathro, Craigo and Brechin, took place between May and July this year, with more than 15,000 local households contacted directly with details of the public events and invites to attend.
Feedback received from local communities, landowners, statutory and non-statutory consultees has helped to inform decision-making, alongside environmental, technical, and economic assessments undertaken throughout the substation’s development process, with Site 2 near Brechin identified as the proposed location to take forward for further development. A decision has also been reached on the proposed substation’s named, with the “Muir of Pert substation” chosen.
Further surveys and environmental assessments will now take place, with the next round of public consultation events planned to take place in early in 2027.
The Report on Consultation also confirms that – through the use of optioneering and following engagement with SSEN Distribution – the proposed upgraded Bridge of Dun Grid Supply Point can be located at the Muir of Pert substation, helping to reduce the need for additional infrastructure in the area.
Jamie Watt, Development Project Manager at SSEN Transmission, said:
“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to come along to our consultation events or provide feedback on our proposals for the new Muir of Pert 275kV substation.
“All of this feedback has been carefully considered alongside environmental, technical and economic factors. Having assessed the relative constraints associated with all potential locations, we have identified Site 2, over 4km outside of Brechin, as the preferred option to take forward, and named it the Muir of Pert substation.
“This is not the end of the consultation process. Feedback will continue to play an important role as we develop the detailed design, and we remain committed to working closely with local communities, landowners and stakeholders as our plans progress.”
Supporting the East Coast electricity network
The proposed new substation is required to enable the new connection location for the upgraded Bridge of Dun Grid Supply Point substation to maintain security of supply to local homes, business’ and enables local renewable generation and storage. The proposed substation also supports the removal of more than 82km of existing 132kV overhead line infrastructure, including over 550 structures, across Angus and Aberdeenshire.
Beyond that, the development will provide additional capacity to connect future renewable generation to the East Coast transmission network.
As part of the consultation, SSEN Transmission sought views on potential routes for the new 275kV overhead lines needed to connect the substation to the existing Kintore-Tealing transmission overhead line, with detail provided in the Report on Consultation and more updates to follow in the upcoming consultation events that will take place in February 2027.
Next steps
The project will now move into the pre-application and concept design stage, supported by further surveys and environmental assessments.
Issues raised through consultation, including agricultural land, residential amenity, landscape and visual impacts, biodiversity, cultural heritage and the local road network, will continue to be assessed as the proposals are developed.
Further work will also consider flood risk, ecological impacts, cultural heritage assets, transport infrastructure and interactions with existing utilities.
A further formal consultation on the developing proposals is planned as part of the next stage of the project, with public events scheduled to take place in February 2027.