SSEN Transmission Launches £3m Argyll Community Benefit Fund

SSEN Transmission_SSEN Transmission has announced the creation of a new £3m local community benefit fund in Argyll.jpg

  • First local fund under new guidance

SSEN Transmission today [Monday] announced the creation of a new local community benefit fund for Argyll, with more than £3m of funding generated for communities hosting the electricity transmission infrastructure for the Argyll 275kV Reinforcement Project – a series of electricity upgrades that will strengthen Argyll’s network. 

This is the first local fund to be announced anywhere in Great Britain since the UK Government published guidance in March governing community funds for electricity network infrastructure.

In all, more than £100m will be generated for community benefit funding across the SSEN Transmission area – including a regional fund covering the whole of the north of Scotland, as well as a series of local funds – delivered as part of the investment in the region’s electricity infrastructure to help achieve the country’s energy security and clean power objectives.

Local communities will be consulted in September about the details of the new fund, including face-to-face drop in sessions, and a webinar for people who can’t attend the in-person events. Areas for consultation will include the ten community council areas next to the Argyll 275kV project. Eligibility criteria for projects that can apply for support – to reflect community priorities – and the levels of grant that will be disbursed will be discussed. It is expected that the fund will be formally launched in early 2026.

Announcing the Fund, Transmission Project Director James McColl said: “We are delighted to launch our £3m Argyll Local Community Benefit Fund that is dedicated to communities located close to our new 275kV Reinforcement Project in Argyll and Bute. We will be working with Argyll and Bute Council to build awareness of this funding within the local communities, and encourage applications from organisations keen to work with us to improve their local community.”

Welcoming the announcement, MSP for Argyll and Bute Jenni Minto said: “This new Community Benefit Fund is a hugely welcome investment in Argyll and Bute’s future. It has the potential to make a real and lasting difference to the wellbeing of local communities by supporting projects that matter most to the people who live here. I am proud to support this initiative and excited to see the positive impact it will bring.”

Find out more about the Argyll and Kintyre 275kV Local Fund here.