A vast new energy hub planned for Longside, Aberdeenshire, has secured outline planning approval, paving the way for one of the largest infrastructure projects of its kind in Scotland.
The Netherton Hub, backed by SSEN Transmission, forms part of a £20 billion upgrade to the north of Scotland’s electricity network. Spanning 588 acres – nearly four times the size of Disneyland Paris – the site will feature a 400kV AC substation, two converter stations, a 30-metre-high transmission hall and an operations base.
Matthew Atkins, senior town planning specialist at SSEN Transmission, described the hub as a “critical part” of efforts to modernise the national grid.
“The location of the Netherton Hub allows us to connect multiple infrastructure elements close to the existing grid,” he said. “By co-locating multiple projects on a single site, we are reducing the need for additional infrastructure, minimising land use and limiting environmental and community effects.”
The project is expected to generate contracts worth more than £2.5 million for the proposed substation and converter station buildings.
However, councillors heard strong opposition from both elected members and local residents. Stonehaven councillor Dawn Black warned that the rising number of energy sites in the region risked “a massive loss of prime agricultural land”, while Mearns councillor Laurie Carnie urged that residents’ concerns be taken seriously.
Ahead of the meeting, Aberdeenshire Council received 43 letters of objection, citing potential noise, traffic, pollution and long-term wellbeing impacts on nearby communities.
Despite these objections, councillors concluded that the national importance of the project outweighed local concerns and voted to approve planning permission in principle.
Planning chief Paul Macari highlighted that such developments are central to the UK’s wider energy transition, providing the grid capacity needed to support offshore wind expansion.
“These projects are part of the economics of renewable energy,” he said. “Without sufficient grid capacity, wind power is not viable.”
SSEN will now prepare a detailed proposal for the Netherton Hub before submitting an application for full planning permission.
