10 July 2026 is the closing date for Consultation Round One of SP Energy Networks (SPEN’s) Pre Application stage of a substation and diverted pylons near Lauder.
SPEN’s current Pre Application Notice is inadequate. It should not proceed any further with crucial information missing.
However, SPEN intends to hold Consultation Round Two in a few months. Then, if SPEN proceeds with this salami slice proposal, a substation planning application will go to Scottish Borders Council by 4 November 2027, at the latest. At that point people could comment to the council planning department.
We encourage everyone who loves Lauderdale to send their objections to info@galanorth.com and copy councillors, MSP, List MSPs and MP.
Deficient Consultation
- 1. Four out of six powerlines are missing from the consultation materials.
- 2. SPEN’s current substation proposal at Threepwood Farm is part of a larger plan to add two or three new 60 metre tall pylon lines across Lauder Common.
- 3. Each of the six powerlines would extend the industrialised reach of the substation – but four are not marked up on the plan. The ZA diversion (two lines) would remove up to 30 hectares of native and commercial woodland. We need to see the impact of the four other pylon lines as well.
- 4. SPEN’s PAN materials claim the site would be six hectares. But they seek to commandeer two fields totalling 21.5 hectares. The size of the substation core site alone as described by the PAN is misleadingly small.
- 5. s. 35B(4) of the 1997 Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act states: A proposal of application notice is to be in such form, and have such content, as may be prescribed but must in any event contain— (a)a description in general terms of the development to be carried out. But a random substation placed in the middle of a 60 year old overhead line is by itself not a justified development.
- 6. The gas main to Galashiels runs parallel to the north of the proposed site. Running powerlines over a gas main is a not insignificant Health & Safety issue. This should be considered as part of a substation application.
- 7. The name Gala North, for a substation south of Lauder, is confusing. Many local people think this is a consultation on the existing Galashiels substation.
- 8. For a proposal of this impact and cost, SPEN should provide full technical justification and options appraisal. Platitudes are insufficient.
- 9. SPEN needs to be honest about the potential cumulative impact of wind, solar and battery farms around a substation at Lauder.
- 10. The information on the website and at the exhibitions is insufficient for constructive comment.