After a relative quiet period punctuated by the odd contentious wind farm, the Scottish Borders has hit the headlines as a result of the unveiling of two rather ambitious proposals: the Cross Border Connection proposed by Scottish Power Energy Networks and a proposed holiday park by Centre Parcs.
The Cross Border Connection is a joint development between SP Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission. The proposal is driven by the Scottish Government’s commitment to become net zero in all greenhouse gases by 2045, with England and Wales committed to net zero by 2050. The Scottish Government’s target is to deliver 20GW [gigawatts] of additional renewable electricity by 2030 to ensure that 50% of our main energy using sectors is met through renewables by 2030. To meet these targets, the capacity of the electricity network between Scotland and the rest of the UK [England and Wales] needs to be increased. The Cross Border Connection is one of several links being proposed to take renewable power between Scotland and England as part of a £58bn upgrade of the national grid.
SPEN is proposing an overhead power line between 75km and 85km in length, running from a new substation called Gala North, situated in the vicinity of the village of Blainslie, south of Lauder, to a new substation located close to Whitrope, some 13km south of Hawick. The overhead line would comprise a 400kV double circuit line supported by steel lattice towers some 50 metres high [maximum 61 metres] and between 200m and 300m apart.
The preferred route corridor goes south west from the proposed Gala North substation to cross the Gala Water south of Stow and then west of Clovenfords to cross the River Tweed in the vicinity of Thornielee before heading over the Minch Moor Road to cross the Yarrow Valley between Yarrowford and Yarrow village and the Ettrick Valley near Hindhope. The route continues southwards west of the Alemoor Reservoir to cross the Borthwick Water and the Teviot Water [and A7] approximately 6km southwest of Hawick. It then continues south eastwards towards Shankend and then southwards alongside the B6399 to a proposed new Teviot Substation near Whitrope. The preferred route than continues south along the western slopes of the Liddel Valley to the west of Newcastleton to the Scotland-England border south of Kershopefoot.
SPEN has been undertaking a first round of consultation with community councils with a series of exhibitions in village halls from Lauder to Newcastleton. Thirteen public consultation events and presentations to community councils have been undertaken and further presentations and meetings are planned. The consultation period extends until 30 November 2024. Residents along the route and other protestors are already getting organized with the formation of around a dozen community protest groups. On Saturday 9 November, John Lamont, Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirkshire MP chaired a meeting at Caddonfoot Village Hall to allow protestors to raise their concerns with SPEN managers.
It will be next year before a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment is prepared and 2026 before there is a second round of consultation on the detailed route alignment. An application to the Scottish Government under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 is not expected before 2028. At this stage, the Scottish Borders Council will be consulted in a similar way in which large scale wind farms are dealt with under section 36 of the Electricity Act. Should the council object at this stage, a public inquiry would be likely so any approval of the proposal would not be likely before 2029. This story has a long way to run.
Douglas G Hope 