Ofgem has awarded £23.4 million to the transmission arm of Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) to replace several overhead power lines in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park with underground cables.
The work is intended to restore views in the park by getting rid of two 132kV double circuits, including 25 steel lattice pylons – the first stretching 4.5 kilometres between Derrydaroch and Crianlarich near Glen Falloch, and the second running 3 kilometres between Sloy Dam and Sloy Power Station.
Ofgem gave preliminary approval to the project in May, judging it to be “economical, efficient, and justified” and granting the full amount of funding requested by SSEN.
However, in issuing its final decision, the regulator revealed that the target date for competition has been set back from February 2022 to June 2022 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. It said the project costs would nevertheless would remain unchanged.
Picture: Transmission line near Glen Falloch
Ofgem has made £500 million available over the current price control period to reduce the visual impact of electricity transmission networks in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and national scenic areas. Of that, the regulator said nearly £365 million – almost three quarters – is still available following the latest decision.