Our proposals
Our proposed upgrade works include:
- refurbishing and reconductoring works on a 10.4km stretch of existing overhead line between our Clydesmill and Strathaven substations
- constructing new towers at Clydesmill and Strathaven substations
- installing a new 275kV underground cable between Strathaven substation and our Malcolmwood compound
- extension to existing Strathaven substation
- installing temporary construction compounds, laydown areas, hardstanding, access roads and vegetation clearance for the construction phase.
Proposed Development
The reconductoring of the existing line and the improvements to the existing towers have previously been consented and no further consent for these works is being sought as part of the current application. These works will nevertheless be included within the Environmental Impact Assessment, that will accompany the application for consent, where appropriate. This will enable the environmental effects of the overall works to be assessed comprehensively.
We aim to complete these works with as little disruption to local communities and the environment as possible. For this project, we propose using existing infrastructure where possible, reducing the need for new construction and supporting a more efficient use of resources. We are developing our proposals with these considerations in mind, alongside technical and economic feasibility.
In November 2026, we will be seeking feedback from local communities, businesses and stakeholders to help us further develop our proposals. We will publish more information about the proposals in a consultation document, available on this webpage from the 12 October 2026.
Have your say
Our first public consultation for the initial proposals will open from Monday 2 November to Tuesday 1 December 2026, during which you can provide feedback. If you have any queries before the consultation period, please reach out to us by phone, email or post using the contact details listed below.
We are holding two initial drop-in consultation sessions. There is no need to register. Simply come along and have a chat with us on the day:
- Monday 2 November 2026, 3pm to 7pm
Halfway Community Hub, 211 Hamilton Road, Cambuslang G72 7PJ - Tuesday 3 November 2026, 3pm to 7pm
Hillhouse and Earnock Community Centre, 121 Hillhouse Road, Hamilton ML3 9TX
Alternatively, you can provide project feedback via email at CVUP@spencontact.co.uk by calling 0800 107 8231 (freephone) or write to us at FREEPOST SPEN CVUP.
Please note that any data collected through your consultation feedback will only be used to help understand views regarding the Clydesmill to Strathaven Upgrade Project. The data will not be used for any other purposes. The data will be collated and analysed to help in the reporting of consultation feedback.
SP Energy Networks is committed to respecting your privacy and will comply with all applicable data protection and privacy laws. We’re consulting you to get your views on the proposed Clydesmill to Strathaven Upgrade Project, so we may need to share your information with certain other bodies for the purposes of the consultation and for creating reports. These are: other Scottish Power Group companies, third party service providers, contractors or advisors who provide services to us; relevant planning authorities.
For further information on our Privacy Policy, please visit https://www.spenergynetworks.co.uk/pages/privacy.aspx
What happens next?
Following our initial public consultation, we will continue to develop our proposals, taking feedback from communities and stakeholders into consideration, alongside ongoing environmental assessment and engineering work. Once we have refined our proposals, we will hold a further public consultation to share our updated proposals and explain how your feedback has helped to shape their development.
We are seeking to submit an application under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 and apply to the Scottish Ministers for deemed planning permission under Section 57(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 for consent to construct the project. This will be submitted along with an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report which will assess and report on the project’s potential environmental impacts.
The improvements to the existing towers have previously been consented and no further consent for these works is being sought as part of the current application. These works will nevertheless be included within the Environmental Impact Assessment, that will accompany the application for consent, where appropriate. This will enable the environmental effects of the overall works to be assessed comprehensively.
All comments made through this consultation are not formal representations to the consenting authority. You will have an opportunity to make formal representation once we submit a Section 37 consent application for all proposed works to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit (ECU).
FAQs
Who are SP Energy Networks?
SP Energy Networks is part of the ScottishPower Group. We are responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in central and southern Scotland, and, through SP Manweb, the distribution network in North Wales and part of North West England. Our role is to maintain, operate and invest in our network to secure a safe, reliable, and economic service for current and future consumers.
What statutory obligations does SP Energy Networks have?
Our statutory obligations are set out in the Electricity Act 1989 and in our transmission licence. We must develop and maintain an efficient, coordinated and economical transmission system in accordance with security and quality of supply standards. We must offer to connect new power generators to the system and, make sure any work we do keeps disturbance to the natural and built environment and the people who live in it, work in it or enjoy it to a minimum.
Who regulates SP Energy Networks?
We are regulated by Ofgem (Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets), and independent national regulatory body. Further information about Ofgem is available on:
Why is the Clydesmill to Strathaven Upgrade Project (CVUP) needed?
Much of the electricity transmission network in Scotland is between 50 and 100 years old. It has grown and evolved to meet industrial needs and serve the expanding population, but the network in central Scotland will soon be at full capacity – unable to accommodate all the clean, green renewable energy we will all need in future.
We need to increase the voltage of the overhead lines in this area from 275kV to 400kV so we can get more energy from where it’s produced to where it’s needed.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) has identified CVUP as one of the projects needed to support the UK Government’s offshore wind ambitions for 2030. It forms part of NESO’s Transitional Centralised Strategic Network Plan 2— a plan to identify the electricity transmission network reinforcements required beyond 2030.
The proposed overhead line uprating, underground cable and associated substations work will have a key role in supporting the efficient flow of power through the system in central Scotland. It will also strengthen the regional power network so it can cope with any unexpected faults in future.
What exactly are you proposing?
The Proposed Development comprises the uprating and reconductoring of existing overhead line infrastructure, the construction of replacement terminal towers, modifications to existing substation infrastructure and the installation of a new underground cable.
Overhead Lines (OHL) Works
- The Proposed Development would include works to uprate the existing Clydesmill–Strathaven 275 kV double circuit overhead line to facilitate 400 kV operation. The No. 2 (eastern) circuit would be operated at 400 kV, whilst the No. 1 (western) circuit would continue to operate at 275 kV, creating a split-voltage operational arrangement. This will include strengthening of existing towers, including modification of steelwork and, where required, foundations
Substations works
- The Proposed Development would also include reconfiguration works at Clydesmill and Strathaven substations, comprising the construction of a new terminal tower at Clydesmill and a new tower at Strathaven to facilitate a 400 kV connection into the substation. An extension of the existing Strathaven 400kV substation compound is required to facilitate the addition of one new bay.
Undergroung Cable (UGC)
- In addition to the OHL works, the Proposed Development would include the installation of approximately 7.3of new 275 kV UGC between the existing Strathaven Substation and the existing Malcolmwood compound.
How much will the project cost?
It is early days and we won’t be able to cost the project fully until we have a definite proposal.
Who will pay for this project?
Ultimately, the cost of our investment in the electricity system is partly borne by consumers through electricity bills, so we are obliged to be economic and efficient. We recover our costs through transmission charges levied by National Grid.
The amount we invest in our networks and the amount we are able to recover is agreed with Ofgem, which is committed to working with industry, governments and consumer groups to deliver a net zero economy at the lowest cost to consumers. You can find out more about About us | Ofgem
How are you consulting local people?
We plan to undertake two rounds of public consultation and a feedback event before submitting our Section 37 application to the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.
The first round of public consultation will take place from Monday 2 November to Tuesday 1 December 2026 and will seek people’s views on our initial proposals for the development.
Following the first round of consultation, we will publish a report summarising the feedback received, our responses and how the feedback has influenced our proposals.
Taking into account the feedback received during the first round of consultation, we will develop a detailed design, including the locations of access routes and working areas. We will also carry out a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and hold a second round of public consultation, giving people an opportunity to comment on the detailed design.
After considering the feedback received during the second round of consultation, we will finalise our project proposals and hold a feedback event to present the final proposals intended to form part of the Section 37 application.
Following the feedback event, we will submit an application to the Scottish Ministers for consent under Section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989 in relation to the relevant components of the Proposed Development. The submission will be accompanied with a Pre-Application Consultation Report documenting the consultation responses received, and the decisions made in light of these responses, to refine the Proposed Development and complete the EIA.
The Scottish Ministers will then undertake statutory consultation before deciding whether to grant consent for the application.
Are you consulting landowners?
Yes, we will be talking to owners and occupiers of land that might be affected by our proposals. If you believe that your land may be affected and you have not yet heard from us, please contact us on our Have Your Say tab.
Can you tell me more about Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs)?
Wherever electricity is used there will also be electric and magnetic fields. This is inherent in the laws of physics – we can modify the fields to some extent, but if we are going to use electricity, then EMFs are inevitable.
Like many other things that we encounter in nature, EMFs can be harmful at high-enough levels. But the fields required, for example, to start interfering with the body’s nervous system are much greater than those produced by the UK electricity system. Hundreds of millions of pounds have been spent investigating this issue around the world. Research still continues to seek greater clarity; however, the balance of scientific evidence to date suggests that EMFs do not cause disease.
For more information, please see the EMF - The Facts
Contact us
You can contact us in the following ways:
By phone:
Call our freephone number 0800 107 8231.
You can contact the project team by telephone at any time using our answerphone service. Please leave your name, contact number and details of your query, along with the name of the project. A member of our project team will aim to call you back within three working days (except Bank Holidays)
By post:
You can write to us free of charge at FREEPOST SPEN CVUP. Write this as a single line on the envelope. No stamp or any other details are needed, but make sure you include your name and address if you need us to send you anything
By email:
CVUP@spencontact.co.uk
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