North East Highland Local Fund
Funding for community projects near new transmission infrastructure in East Caithness and Sutherland
Value: Expected value of £14,765,000
Status: This fund will be developed in partnership with local communities
About the North East Highland Local Fund
We recognise that major infrastructure projects have a direct impact on the communities they pass through. The North East Highland Local Fund will be designed to make sure communities living near a number of our key infrastructure projects in the area can share in the benefits of this investment.
This includes:
- The Banniskirk Hub which will include a new 400kV substation and high voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station in the Spittal area
- The Carnaig 400kV substation in Loch Buidhe (subject to planning consents)
- The new Spittal – Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV connection – Highland North East section only (subject to planning consents)
The North East Highland Local Fund will be developed in partnership with the communities closest to our infrastructure.
Funding will be available when the main construction begins.
Who the fund is for
The local fund is aimed specifically at communities close to new transmission infrastructure in East Caithness and Sutherland, and anticipate this including the community council areas of:
- Halkirk
- Watten
- Castletown & Bower
- Latheron, Lybster & Clyth
- Berriedale & Dunbeath
- Helmsdale
- Brora
- Golspie
- Rogart
- Dornoch
- Creich
Fund value
The current total lifetime value of this local fund is expected to be £14,765,000 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 projects:
- Carnaig 400kV substation (subject to planning consents)
- Spittal - Loch Buidhe – Beauly 400kV overhead line – Highland North East section only (subject to planning consents)
In addition to this local fund, communities can also apply to our Regional Fund, which supports 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.
We will be launching our community engagement activity later this year. We would welcome thoughts and views of all community members who live and work throughout East Caithness, Sutherland and the surrounding area, particularly those who are situated close to the infrastructure.
The aims of this community engagement activity 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)
To gather your views, we will be hosting several in-person and online sessions and details of these will be available on this web site in advance of the consultation.
If you have any questions, 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.
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.
