Planning Consent Declined Or Withdrawn

On 5 February 2026, Highland Council's South Planning Applications Committee refused planning permission for SSEN Transmission's Fanellan 400kV AC substation and HVDC converter station near Beauly, the mainland end of the Western Isles HVDC Link. The motion to refuse was tabled by Aird and Loch Ness Cllr David Fraser and seconded by Cllr Chris Ballance, citing more than a dozen material planning considerations including landscape and visual impact on the rural Aird and Loch Ness area, inadequate construction traffic assessment, contradictory traffic information in the application, factually incorrect statements made by SSEN at committee, and the unresolved status of the Black Bridge replacement on the heavy-haul route to site. The decision went against the recommendation of the Council's own Planning Officer Roddy Dowell, who had recommended approval despite objections from the Council's own Transport, Access, Ecology and Forestry Officers, Historic Environment Scotland, Beauly District Salmon Fishery Board and six community councils. The application attracted approximately 1,910 public objections (one supportive comment) and 31 material considerations against. The reasons-for-refusal notice was subsequently issued by Highland Council officers on 20 February 2026.</description>