New fund proposal and consultation report mark next step for £5.46m Skye Reinforcement Local Fund

31 July 2026

SSEN Transmission_SSEN Transmission invites local community to consultation event on proposed new 132kV substation near Coupar A.jpg

We have published a proposal setting out how the new community benefit fund could be delivered, alongside a report on the consultation which shaped the proposal.

The £5.46m Skye Reinforcement Local Fund will provide dedicated community benefit funding to communities hosting the replacement infrastructure, including all community council areas in Skye & Raasay, Glenelg & Arnisdale, Glengarry, and Fort Augustus & Glenmoriston.

Consultation was carried out in March and April to hear directly from residents in these communities and learn more about what they would like the fund to prioritise and how they would like it to be developed. The consultation report captures the feedback received, providing valuable insights into local priorities, funding needs, and how the fund can be structured to deliver lasting, meaningful benefits aligned with community aspirations.

We have now set out an initial fund proposal based on the preferences expressed by communities during the consultation. The proposal outlines the fund’s priorities and structure, governance arrangements and eligibility criteria.

Stakeholders in the communities hosting the infrastructure are now invited to share their feedback on the proposal before it is finalised. This can be done by email to community.benefit@sse.com before 14 September.

Subject to this further engagement, the next steps will include:

  • Publication of final fund details and applicant guidance
  • Open recruitment for an independent Local Investment Forum (formerly known as a local decision-making panel)
  • Ongoing support from our dedicated Community Fund Manager, who will oversee the development and administration of the Fund

The timing of the fund opening remains dependent on planning conditions for the Skye Reinforcement project being fully discharged and main construction work commencing. It is currently anticipated that the fund will open by the end of 2026.

Dr Joanna Rodgers, SSEN Transmission’s Community Fund Manager said:

“We would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views during the consultation for this important new fund. The fund proposal directly reflects the feedback received from organisations and residents across the Skye Reinforcement Project route who provided a clear steer on how this funding can best support their exciting plans and aspirations for communities across the area.

“We are committed to continuing to work in partnership with communities across the area to ensure that this fund delivers meaningful, long-term benefits, and we would encourage anyone with an interest to review the proposal and share any feedback before mid-September.”

The Skye Reinforcement Local Fund aims to provide long-term, sustainable investment in local communities, supporting a wide range of initiatives including community development and local resilience.

In line with UK Government guidance on community funds for transmission infrastructure, the fund is made up of community benefit funding linked to the Skye Reinforcement Project.  The total lifetime value of the Skye Reinforcement Local Fund is £5.46m.

The Skye Reinforcement Project will replace the existing overhead electricity line between Fort Augustus and Skye, strengthening the electricity network to support security of supply, clean power and enable progress towards net zero. As part of the project, substations at Edinbane and Broadford will be extended, with upgrade works also taking place at Fort Augustus Substation.

Further information on the consultation report and fund proposal, including details on how to provide feedback can be found on the Skye Reinforcement Local Fund page.