A new report released today shows the last major transmission line to be built in Scotland, between Beauly to Denny, had no adverse impact on house prices since it became operational in 2015. 

The BiGGAR Economics report, commissioned by Scottish Renewables with the support of ScottishPower and SSE, found houses near the 137-mile line mirrored local housing markets and have actually increased in value since 2015.

Extending from Beauly, north of Inverness, to Denny near Falkirk, the Beauly-Denny line passes through the four council areas of Highland, Perth and Kinross, Stirling, and Falkirk, with substations at each end. 

BiGGAR Economics surveyed estate agents from areas surrounding the Beauly – Denny line.  The research found that the unknown period during the extended planning process and subsequent public enquiry caused the biggest issue for the housing market. 

But once the line was agreed and built, house prices across the route mirrored local markets, in some areas actually increased.

Keith Anderson, ScottishPower CEO, said: “This demonstrates the impact the completed Beauly to Denny line had on house prices - none.  The only impact was the period of uncertainty around whether and where the line would be built, a clear reason why planning needs to be sped up for the good of the community. 

“We need to undertake the biggest rewiring this country has ever seen to facilitate the wider modernisation of our economy.  Our grid needs a major overhaul to reconfigure the electricity motorways to better serve a modern, flexible, greener energy system. If we want more homes – they need electricity.  If we want more low carbon heating and transport – it needs electricity.  If we want more jobs, business and industry – they need electricity.  

“Uncertainty is unsettling and it’s in everyone’s interests that we move quicker. Faster planning within two years will deliver vital national infrastructure in the timeframe this country needs and minimise uncertainty for communities, developers and generators.”

Transmission lines are the backbone of the electricity system with major investment up and down the country to get more clean, green, secure power onto the grid and enable additional capacity for industrial growth, housebuilding and economic investment.  

SP Energy Networks’ transmission business is investing billions across central southern Scotland to upgrade the network and unlock growth.