LAUDERDALE PRESERVATION GROUP

Cross Border Connection – Lauder Threepwood (Gala North) to Scottish Border

SP Energy Networks is consulting on a proposed 400kV/132kV Teviot substation and the 400kV steel tower, overhead line (OHL) which it hopes to run from the also proposed Gala North substation at Threepwood Moss near Lauder, to the Scotland-England border.

The Cross Border Connection would be part of a much larger OHL from Peterhead to Liverpool. Britian’s three transmission monopolies would all be involved in its construction. For Lauderdale it would be a joint development between SP Transmission and National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET). NGET’s proposals for the Cross Border Connection in England remain at an early stage of development. Late in 2025, NGET plans to hold its first stage of consultation, at which point they will present their early proposals, including proposed technology and routing/siting aspects in England.

SP Energy Networks is developing and will construct the section of the connection in Scotland.

Although SP Energy Networks is consulting on a preferred route before NGET,
the Scottish section of the project will be subject to alignment with the section
in England before detailed design.

Overview

In Scotland, the overhead line would be circa 92km, running from the proposed Gala North substation to a point at the Scotland-England border, south of Newcastleton. The line would connect to a new Teviot substation, which would potentially be located close to Whitrope. The overhead line would use a 400kV double circuit line supported by towers. There are three main elements in the proposals:

• Construction of a new double circuit 400kV overhead line, running north-south from Gala North substation to Teviot substation
• Construction of the Teviot substation
• Construction of a new 400kV overhead line running from Teviot substation to a point at the border

Preferred Route in the Scottish Borders

Since the first round of engagement in 2024 SP Energy Networks has been reviewing feedback and made modifications to the preferred route option. As a result, the overall length of the modified preferred route option has increased.

It is around 92km located entirely within the Scottish Borders from the proposed Gala North Substation south of Lauder to the Scotland-England border southeast of Newcastleton.

The route starts at the proposed new Gala North substation and heads west and southwest toward the Gala Water. It crosses the Gala Water and Borders Railway Line to the south of Torsonce and continues southwest across the lower slopes of the Moorfoot Hills towards the River Tweed.

The crossing point of the River Tweed has been moved slightly further west into commercial forestry which sits either side of the Tweed valley.

The route options are being presented as corridors through which an overhead line could be threaded. At this stage, the route can be several hundred metres wide. This will narrow down significantly when tower locations have been established within the Proposed Route. Once detailed design is completed, the alignment will be approx. 25m wide with an 80m min. wide operational corridor.

Visit SPEN’s website to see more details about the full route including detailed maps.

Project Timeline

• September – December 2024 – 13 public consultation events across the Scottish Borders

• March – April 2025 – Additional local engagement sessions in Scottish Borders

• Summer 2025 – Publication of a report detailing the outcome from the first round of public consultations

• Late 2025 – First stage of consultations in England

• Early 2026 – Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping (Scotland)

• Autumn 2026 – Another round of public consultations in the Scottish Borders

• Early 2027 – Design freeze (Scotland)

• 2028 – Application submitted to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit (ECU)

• Late 2029 – Construction phase begins