The Western Isles link is an undersea/underground cable from Arnish on Lewis, to near Beauly. It will run through Contin Forest, see map. More details about the project are on SSEN’s web-site.
This is a ‘permitted development’ under Class 40 of The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, and therefore there is no explicit consenting process for much of the works. SSEN does require planning permission for connection to ‘classified’ roads, those with an A, B or C number but not U numbers. So far, only one such application has been made in our area, at Jamestown, here.
SSEN has now instituted a Community Liaison Group (ToR here) and minutes will be posted here when agreed. We are investigating how access to forest trails will be maintained during the works. We have met SSEN, minutes here.
Work has started on the construction of a works compound at Jamestown. There is now a Recreational Access Managment Plan for the Jamestown compound.
SSEN also notifies us of forthcoming works.
Felling trees in Contin Forest requires a permit from Forestry and Land Scotland. We are liaising with FLS so that we don’t lose some of our more unusual trees, such as the Coast Redwoods.
Updated 24 September 2026