Homeowners are threatening to take SSEN to court for losses on the valuation of their houses along a 70-mile pylon development after being forced to sell their properties for £125,000 under the asking price.
Aberdeenshire West MSP Alexander Burnett has written to both SSEN and the Scottish Government, calling for a dedicated compensation fund for those impacted by a proposed chain of 350 pylons between Kintore in Aberdeenshire to Tealing in Angus.
Mr Burnett has been contacted by several concerned residents, with one who has had to sell his home for £125,000 below the asking price after seven prospective buyers withdrew due to the prospect of 190ft power lines being in the vicinity of the property.
The MSP has also written to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, and has also been notified of mortgage lenders declining properties close to the development due to negative equity.
It comes as more than 10,000 objections have now been lodged against the proposed development – thought to be the highest ever number for an application relating to energy infrastructure in Scotland.
Scottish Conservative MSP for Aberdeenshire West, Alexander Burnett, said: “Residents living in the shadow of this proposed pylon route are having their lives turned upside down by these hugely damaging plans.
“The risk of having these pylons on their doorstep is causing significant financial hardship for homeowners, who are being forced to sell their properties for £125,000 less than if these proposals didn’t exist.
“Many, who have been ignored at every turn of the planning process, have no choice but to take SSEN to court over the losses they are incurring.
“Neither SSEN or the Scottish Government have any understanding of the magnitude of this issue and the misery it is causing for communities who are fearing for their future.
“That is why, as a matter of urgency, I am pushing for a dedicated compensation fund to be created, which I will also be raising in the Scottish Parliament this week.”
In his letter to SSEN and SNP energy secretary Gillian Martin, Mr Burnett said: “An initial full-price offer of £700,000 was withdrawn after a prospective buyer learned of the proposed pylons, and seven further prospective buyers withdrew, all citing the proposed pylons.
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“Despite extensive re-marketing, the property ultimately sold for £575,000, resulting in a loss of £125,000 on the sale.
“To date, no compensation scheme for affected homeowners has been put in place. The result to my constituents is devastating, with the loss of hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“I therefore urge you to establish a dedicated compensation fund for homeowners who can provide clear evidence of material financial loss arising from current or proposed transmission-line developments.”
