Scottish Hydro Electrical Transmission Lines (SHETL) and Scottish Power Transmission Limited (SPTL) submitted applications to Scottish Ministers in 2005 proposing an upgrade of the main electricity transmission line from the Highlands to the Central belt with a 400kV overhead line from Beauly to Denny, near Falkirk. As the affected local authorities all objected, the applications were referred to the Scottish Government's Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals for public inquiry.
The Beauly Denny public inquiry was the largest in Scotland since devolution. The inquiry has now completed and Scottish Ministers received the report resulting from the inquiry on 19 February 2009. Scottish Ministers will only make a decision on the application once we have considered thoroughly, and carefully all material considerations, including the Public Local Inquiry report.
Once a decision has been made, the relevant decision documents and the report will be placed on the Scottish Government website.