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VISTA - Killin

Project overview
Project updates
Project documentation
FAQs
Project Type: VISTA
Location: Stirling

Contact Details

Liaison Manager

Louise Anderson
Title: Community Liaison Manager
Email: louise.anderson@sse.com
Telephone: 07384 454233
Address: Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 3AQ

Land Manager

Robin Cameron
Title: Land Manager
Email: robin.cameron@sse.com
Mobile: 07500 912921
Address: Inveralmond House, 200 Dunkeld Perth, PH1 3AQ
Status: Construction Phase

Latest

Alternate Text

SSEN Transmission leads the way in environmental sustainability for fourth year in a row

Date: 29 Nov 2021
Killin Village

Construction begins on project to remove overhead electrical lines and towers from scenic beauty spot at Killin

Sep 2021
Power Station

Lochay 132/11kV Transformer Replacement Project

Killin Towers

Green light for project to remove 31 transmission towers in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park

May 2021
Paul Lucas RAYNET - Argyll and Bute radio communications.jpg

Communities encouraged to build resilience with powerful £280k fund

Killin Vista image.jpg

Ofgem set to approve removal of transmission towers above Killin

3 Mar 2021

About the project

Following assessment of all of SSEN Transmission’s infrastructure in National Parks and National Scenic Areas (NSAs), the overhead lines near Killin in the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park were identified as a priority area, where the impacts of the existing infrastructure were higher than elsewhere in Scotland.

The potential for mitigation in this location was considered to be high, due to the numbers of people that could potentially benefit, and the lower level of other environmental constraints.

Ducting
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Ducting December 2021

Progress Gallery

A selection of photographs taken from along the route documenting the project construction progress.

What is VISTA?

The electricity and gas markets regulator, Ofgem, is responsible for administering a £500m fund for GB electricity transmission owners to mitigate the impact of existing electricity infrastructure on the visual amenity of nationally designated landscapes. This is part of the RIIO-T1 Price Controls that incentives and regulates how transmission owners operate, covering the eight year period from April 2013 to March 2021.

The primary objective of VISTA is to use the Ofgem funding to deliver the maximum benefit for nationally designated landscapes in the north of Scotland transmission network. This will be achieved by delivering projects that offer significant reductions in visual impact, while avoiding unwanted economic and environmental impacts.

What is there now?

Two parallel overhead lines run south from the Killin substation, across the shoulder of Creag Bhuidhe, towards the River Dochart. After crossing the river to the south of Killin the two overhead lines diverge: one line continues west through Glen Dochart and the other passes south through Glen Ogle.

The pylons are clearly visible from Killin village, and appear in the backdrop to the village in wider views. They are prominent from the Falls of Dochart which is a popular location for visitors. The pylons are also seen from the A827 both on approach to the National Park from the east, and between Killin and Lix Toll.

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Killin substation current view

What is proposed?

A total of 7.8 km of overhead line will be removed, including 32 steel lattice towers, between Killin substation and Lix Toll. The removed towers will include the most prominent section above Killin and the Falls of Dochart, as well as those crossing the A827. The project will significantly reduce the quantity of electricity infrastructure in the Killin area.

The proposals will enhance the character and special qualities of this key gateway location to the National Park, and have been designed to benefit the maximum number of people, by focusing on a well visited area, including the popular Falls of Dochart. This will enhance the enjoyment of the landscape and its scenic views, for many people who visit the area.

Our engagement

Throughout the life of our projects, we aim to work positively with local communities and keep people informed about what we are doing. This is particularly important when we are developing a proposal and we want to understand what local people think about our plans.

We endeavour to take the time to discuss proposals with local community councils, encourage engagement from the wider community and listen to the feedback we receive.

We will do our best to answer any questions and address issues or concerns that are raised with us.

When our project progresses into construction, we will continue working closely with the local community to ensure that our work has as little impact on the lives of those living and working in the area and as many long term positive effects as possible.

Legend

The data in this map is provided for indicative purposes only and may be subject to change. Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission plc do not accept responsibility for its accuracy, completeness or validity. The data should not be copied, reproduced or utilised externally without permission.

Can alternative tower designs be used as a potential mitigation method?

All financially and technically feasible mitigation options that fall within the scope of our Vista policy are open for consideration for project development.

Can funding for projects be asked for on a per kilometre basis relative to the length of line within each Transmission Operators region?

Ofgem have made no link between the proportion of assets within National Parks and National Scenic Areas (NSA’s) within each Transmission Operator’s operational area, and the amount of funding available to them.

Can the fund be used to rationalise distribution infrastructure?

Ofgem has set up a separate initiative for mitigating visual impacts with regards to distribution infrastructure. This initiative is being run in parallel and were applicable we will seek to work closely with our Distribution company to ensure that stakeholders will receive best value and our, projects and proposals are coordinated.

Please visit the following for information on the Distribution initiative: www.ssen.co.uk/undergrounding/north/

How will you engage with local stakeholders to gain local knowledge?

We are holding a suite of workshops with national and local bodies to ensure that the areas of greatest need are properly identified and that proposals are developed which deliver best value to make a real difference in reducing pre-existing visual impact.

For assets within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park we are working with Scottish Power Energy Networks (SPEN), the National Park authority, and other groups to ensure our approaches are aligned and complimentary.

Dochart Falls.jpg

Project Update - December

08 Dec 2021 09:33
The Killin VISTA project has made great progress since our Principal Contractor Morgan Sindall Infrastructure mobilised to site in the Summer and as the site prepares to close for the Christmas break we wanted to provide a project update. Tree felling works associated with the cable corridor through Acharn and Dochart forest have completed and the timber is currently being removed from site. The access track to a new Cable Sealing End (CSE) tower location within Dochart forest is also complete. Construction on our remaining access tracks and easement fencing across the site remain on-going. We have also recently commenced trenching and ducting works to the north of the route outside Killin 132kV substation and within the land either side of the River Dochart as well as constructing the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) compounds. The drilling works are now underway and are scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2022. The site will close on Thursday 23 December, and re-open on Tuesday 4 January 2022.
Ducting

December Project Newsletter

01 Dec 2021 13:50
The December edition of the Killin VISTA project newsletter is available to be downloaded from the project documentation section of this webpage and shares an overview of the site activities currently underway to keep all interested parties updated with the projects progress during construction.
Temp Bridge.png

Temporary Bridge

25 Nov 2021 14:22
We are pleased to confirm that works on the temporary bridge that has been installed across the River Dochart as part of the Killin VISTA project are now complete. This bridge is for the projects construction traffic only and is not for public use. Now that the bridge is in situ, residents of Craignavie Road should see a significant reduction in construction vehicles on this road. We thank the local residents for their extended patience and understanding while we worked on getting the bridge installed and opened.
Killin Village

Project Newsletter

15 Sep 2021 09:59
To give you an insight into what works and activities are coming up on site, the Killin VISTA project team have created and published the first quarterly project newsletter. The newsletter will share an overview of the works underway and keep you updated with the projects progress during construction. The newsletter can be downloaded from the project documentation section of this website.
Site Compound Location

Site Compound Set Up

21 Jul 2021 08:39
Our Principal Contractor; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure have begun setting up their site compound and started enabling works in order to commence the start of construction on the Killin VISTA project. The site compound will be situated off the A827.
40MPH Zone

40MPH Speed Restriction

16 Jul 2021 09:06
SSEN Transmission recently applied to Stirling Council to restrict the speed on the A827 to 40mph from approximately 830meters north east of the junction of A85 / A827 at Lix Toll, extending 969 meters towards Killin. These restrictions will come into place from 16 August 2021 and will remain in place until 23 December 2022. The traffic management drawing showing where the signage will be placed and the area that the speed restriction applies to can be downloaded from the project documentation section of this website. The reduction in speed limit is required to ensure the safety of the general road users and of the construction workers during the Killin VISTA project works. SSEN Transmission and our Principal Contractor; Morgan Sindall Infrastructure apologise for any inconvenience and disruption that these restrictions may cause to the local community and thank you for your patience and understanding.
Killin Vista image.jpg

Funding Determination

05 May 2021 14:26
We welcome Ofgem’s decision to approve funding to remove a total of 7.8 km of overhead line from the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park between Killin substation and Lix Toll replacing it with underground electricity cables. We would like to thank everyone who has given their time to share their views throughout the development process, the approval from Ofgem follows several years of close development work with the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, the local community and a wide range of stakeholders, representing both statutory and non-statutory organisations. Work on the project is expected to commence in early summer 2021 with the work on the undergrounding expected to be completed by Jan 2023.
Killin Village

OFGEM Consultation

05 Mar 2021 14:20
Ofgem has now published a consultation on its preliminary assessment of a funding request by SSEN Transmission for our proposed Killin VISTA project. The final approval of the scheme is subject to the outcome of Ofgem’s consultation, open until 24 March 2021, as the regulator seeks further views and support from stakeholders before making a final decision on whether to approve funding for the plans. SSEN Transmission encourages those who are interested in the scheme to submit their feedback to Ofgem.
Killin VISTA

Project Update

23 Feb 2021 14:15
Following the virtual consultation event SSEN Transmission held in July 2020 we subsequently submitted our funding application to OFGEM in October 2020 with the expectation to receive OFGEMs determination on our funding application at the start of this year, with an anticipated construction start date of March 2021. As the funding determination has been delayed this has inadvertently pushed our anticipated start date back to August 2021 and the completion of works date to November 2023. We will provide another update once we have received the funding determination from OFGEM.

December 2021 newsletter

Related Projects: VISTA - Killin

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File Type: pdf
Published: 30 Nov 2021
October 2021 Newsletter

Related Projects: VISTA - Killin

Download
File Type: pdf
Published: 15 Sep 2021
40mph Restriction - A827

Related Projects: VISTA - Killin

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File Type: pdf
Published: 16 Jul 2021
Killin VISTA Virtual Consultation FAQs

Related Projects: VISTA - Killin

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File Type: pdf
Published: 27 Aug 2020
Killin VISTA Virtual Consultation Information Brochure

Related Projects: VISTA - Killin

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File Type: pdf
Published: 18 Jun 2020

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