£1.62m community fund: Lairg and Rogart residents invited to help shape local investment
10 November 2026
SSEN Transmission is to hold public consultation events in Rogart, Lairg and online as it develops new South Loch Shin Local Fund
People living and working in and around Lairg and Rogart are being invited to help shape a new community benefit fund worth an expected £1.62 million.
SSEN Transmission is launching a public consultation this month on its new South Loch Shin Local Fund, which will provide funding for communities closest to new electricity transmission infrastructure at the southern end of Loch Shin.
The fund is linked to the Lairg II Wind Farm and Chleansaid Wind Farm connections, including new substations and a new overhead line and will open in 2027.
Importantly, SSEN Transmission wants the fund to be developed in partnership with local communities, giving people a say in where funding should be available and how it can best deliver lasting benefits.
As part of the consultation, teams are holding two public drop-in events and an online session:
- Wednesday 18 November, 4pm to 6pm: Rogart Village Hall, Rogart, IV28 3XJ, with a presentation and Q&A at 5pm.
- Thursday 19 November, 4pm to 7pm: Lairg Community Centre, Main Street, Lairg, IV27 4DD, with a presentation and Q&A at 5pm.
- Monday 23 November, 7pm to 8pm: Online presentation and Q&A via Microsoft Teams. Members of the public can register via the local fund website.
The consultation will seek views on three key areas: which communities should benefit from the fund; which priorities the funding should support; and how the fund should be structured, including how long funding should be available and the level of support available for community projects.
Linsay Chalmers, Community Fund Manager at SSEN Transmission, said:
“This new £1.62 million fund represents a significant opportunity to deliver a lasting benefit for the communities closest to our infrastructure around the southern end of Loch Shin.
“Local people know their communities best, which is why we want them to be at the heart of shaping the fund. We want to hear what matters most to people in Lairg, Rogart and the surrounding area, from the types of projects they would like to see supported to where funding should be available. Both communities have recently consulted on their Local Place Plans, so we are excited to see how they would prioritise this significant new investment.
“I’d encourage as many people as possible to come along to one of our consultation events or complete our survey and help us make sure this funding delivers meaningful benefits for the area for years to come.”
Those unable to attend an event can still have their say. The consultation survey will be open from Monday 16 November until Monday 14 December.
Anyone who cannot attend but would like to take part can contact community.benefit@sse.com to request a briefing document and survey.
The current expected lifetime value of the South Loch Shin Local Fund is £1.62 million, calculated in line with UK Government guidance on electricity transmission network infrastructure community funds.
It brings together community benefit funding associated with three elements of SSEN Transmission’s investment in the area: the Lairg II Wind Farm Substation, Chleansaid Wind Farm Substation and the Chleansaid Wind Farm Substation to Dalchork Substation overhead line.
In addition to the South Loch Shin Local Fund, communities can apply to SSEN Transmission’s Regional Funds, which support larger-scale, strategic community projects across the north of Scotland.