Beauly-Denny
Beauly – Denny 400 kV National Grid Upgrade
Due to pressing demand for connection from renewable generation developers seeking access to adequate transmission system capacity in the Highlands of Scotland, Scottish Hydro-Electric Transmission Ltd and SP Transmission Ltd made separate applications under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 for consent to install an electric line above ground from Beauly in the Highlands to near Denny in Central Scotland.
The proposed electric line is 220km of double circuit 400kV overhead transmission line on steel lattice towers from an extended substation at Beauly near Inverness, to a new substation near Denny, via substations at Fasnakyle, Fort Augustus, Tummel Bridge and Braco.
An Environmental Impact Assessment was required for the proposed transmission line, and it was published in September 2005 and submitted to the Scottish Ministers together with the Section 37 applications.
Roger Tym & Partners acted as part of a multi-disciplinary team of specialists over a six-year period 2004-2009, undertaking the assessment of the impact of the proposed overhead line on the tourism and recreation sector, and of the construction of the line on the economy in the route corridor area.
- the drivers for tourism change
- the structure of the economy in the overall corridor area, including tourist and visitor facilities
- the impact of the proposals on local businesses, particularly those in leisure and tourism, and on the recreational resources of the study corridor
- the impact of construction on the local and wider economy
Our assessment highlighted the benefits that might accrue to local economies, which are generally in remote and rural locations. It formed the Tourism chapter of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project, and inputted to the Electricity Act Section 37 local Public Inquiry into the proposals, held during 2007.
We conducted comparative research into the ex post (after the event) impact of the Scotland to Northern Ireland Interconnector on the Ayrshire leisure and tourism economy, as the only example in Scotland of a before and after impact assessment of an overhead power line. We also undertook the ex ante (before the event) impact assessment of that line in 1994.
David Keddie, Partner at Roger Tym & Partners, was expert witness at the Public Inquiry Strategic Session, and the further four local (area-based) sessions on tourism and recreation and local economic impacts. David’s evidence included the method of approach, the research employed, comparative research evidence, the potential impacts, and the potential mitigation measures.
