Melgarve Cluster Local Fund
Funding for community projects in Laggan and Stratherrick & Foyers
Status: This fund will be developed in partnership with local communities
About the Melgarve Cluster Local Fund
We recognise that major infrastructure projects have a direct impact on the communities they pass through. The Melgarve Cluster Local Fund is designed to make sure communities share in the benefits of this investment.
The Melgarve Cluster project will connect Dell and Cloiche Wind Farms to the existing Melgarve 400/132kV substation. The infrastructure includes:
- Cloiche Wind Farm to Melgarve Station Overhead Line
- Cloiche Wind Farm Switching station
- Dell Wind Farm Switching Station (subject to planning consents)
The Melgarve Cluster Local Fund will be developed in partnership with the communities closest to the project site in Laggan and Stratherrick & Foyers.
Funding will be available when the main construction begins.
Who the fund is for
The local fund is aimed specifically at communities close to the project infrastructure, including the Community Council areas of:
- Laggan
- Stratherrick and Foyers
Fund value
The current total lifetime value of this local fund is expected to be £1,230,000 subject to planning consents.
The fund value is calculated in line with UK Government Guidance, and is made up of community benefit funding associated with the infrastructure of the following:
- Cloiche Wind Farm to Melgarve Station Overhead Line
- Cloiche Wind Farm Switching station
- Dell Wind Farm Switching Station (subject to planning consents)
In addition to this local fund, communities can also apply to our Regional Funds, which support larger‑scale, strategic community projects across the north of Scotland.
Learn more about our approach to funding
Designed in collaboration with communities
It’s important to us that this fund reflects what matters most to the people it will benefit.
Help shape this fund
We are launching our consultation for the Melgarve Cluster Local Fund in October 2026. We welcome the thoughts and views of all community members who live or work anywhere in the Laggan or Stratherrick and Foyers community council areas, particularly those who are situated close to the infrastructure.
The aims of this consultation will be to define:
- The area of benefit for the fund (i.e. where the funding should be available)
- The priorities for the fund (i.e. what is most important to your community and how the money should be best used)
- The structure of the fund (i.e. how many years the fund should be available and what level of funding should be available for community projects)
We are holding several drop-in events to share more information and find out what local communities want the new fund to look like.
Join us at an event to meet the team and share your views. We’ll share a short presentation near the beginning of each drop-in session, but please feel free to join the drop-in events at any time - registration is only required for the online event.
We will be hosting in-person and online sessions on the following dates and times:
|
Format |
Location |
Date and time |
|---|---|---|
|
Drop-in event: presentation and Q&A |
Laggan Community Hall |
Thursday 1 October, 3.30-7pm |
|
Drop-in event: presentation and Q&A |
The Hub, Foyers |
Tuesday 27 October, 3.30-7pm |
|
Drop-in event: presentation and Q&A |
The Wildside Centre, Whitebridge |
Wednesday 28 October, 3.30-7pm |
|
Online webinar - presentation and Q&A |
Online – Microsoft Teams |
Tuesday 3 November 7pm |
|
Community survey |
Online survey link will be published here on 1 October. Hard copies available on request |
Survey open Thursday 1 October – Thursday 12 November |
We recognise that not everyone will be available to attend one of these sessions – if you are not able to attend, but would still like to share your views, please get in touch at community.benefit@sse.com and we can provide you with more information and a survey to complete. The survey will be open between Thursday 1 October and Thursday 12 November.
The views gathered throughout the consultation will be analysed and published in a consultation report, and the findings will be used to create a fund proposal. These documents which will be shared with key community representatives (e.g. community councils, development trusts) for feedback before being finalised. The finalised fund details will be published on this website later in the year.
If you have any questions or accessibility requirements, please email us at community.benefit@sse.com
Our commitment to communities
We’re committed to working with communities to ensure the benefits are shared fairly and deliver real, meaningful outcomes.
Through this fund, we want to support projects that strengthen communities now and leave a positive legacy for the future.
Learn about communities who have received funding
Stay informed
We will keep this page updated as the fund develops, and you will be able to apply for funding here when applications open.
You can also follow us on social media, and sign up to our mailing list to receive key updates on this fund, and for other key funding updates.
