Oliver’s Forest Wind Farm Connection

The Proposal

The proposed 132kV connection between Oliver’s Forest Wind Farm and Redshaw substation will use a combination of overhead lines (OHL) and underground cables (UGC) over a distance of approximately 27 km. The final ratio of OHL to UGC will depend on topography, designations, and proximity to residential properties.

SPEN’s policy is to seek a continuous OHL for transmission connections, in line with statutory license requirements. UGCs are only considered in areas with significant visual or environmental sensitivity.

The final design, including how the connection enters each substation, is still under development and may include terminal poles or a section of UGC.

Project Documents

Project Leaflet - A downloadable/printable version of our project leaflet.

Feedback Form - A downloadable/printable version of our feedback form.

Information Banners - A downloadable/printable version of our Information Banners.

EMF – The Facts Leaflet

Routeing and Consultation Document - A downloadable/printable version of our Routeing and Consultation Document.

Use the dropdown menu below to view, download, or print the Routeing and Consultation Document Figures

Have Your Say

Our consultation period will run between 9 June and 25 July 2025.

SPEN attaches great importance to the effect our work may have on the environment and local communities. We want to hear what local people think about our plans, to help us develop the project in the best way.

Please come along to our public exhibitions, where you can see our plans in more detail and ask questions of the project team.

Feedback form is now open for submission.

Should you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us via our project email address: oliversforestproject@spenergynetworks.co.uk

What Happens next?

Comments received during the consultation on our preferred route will be taken into consideration alongside findings of environmental surveys to help identify the final proposed route.

We are planning to hold a second round of consultation events in 2026 to share how we have taken on board your comments and seek feedback on our final proposals before we submit a Section 37 application to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit to seek permission for the development.

FAQs

Who are SP Energy Networks?

SP Energy Networks is part of the Scottish Power Group. We are responsible for the transmission and distribution of electricity in Central and Southern Scotland (through Scottish Power Transmission), and, through SP Manweb, the distribution network in North Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire and North Shropshire. 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), an independent national regulatory body. Further information about Ofgem is available at: 

• www.ofgem.gov.uk  (opens in a new window) 

• Calling Ofgem's Consumer Affairs team on 020 7901 7295 

• Emailing consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk

What exactly are you proposing?

The proposed connection between Oliver’s Forest Wind Farm and Redshaw substation will use a combination of overhead lines (OHL) and underground cables (UGC) over a distance of approximately 20 km.

The final design, including how the connection enters each substation, is still under development and may include terminal poles or a section of UGC.

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.  

How are you consulting local people?    

We are planning two rounds of public consultation before we submit our Section 37 application to Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit.

First round consultation dates:

We are planning to hold a second round of consultation events in 2026 to share how we have taken on board your comments and seek feedback on our final proposals before we submit a Section 37 application to the Scottish Government Energy Consents Unit to seek permission for the development.

If you are not able to attend the public consultation event, there are other ways you can provide feedback:

Fill in a feedback form online (available from the start of the consultation period on 9 June 2025)..

Postal address for feedback forms:

Oliver's Forest Wind Farm Connection Project

Land and Planning Team

SP Energy Networks

55 Fullarton Drive

Glasgow

G32 8FA

If your question is not answered within these FAQs, you can email the dedicated project mailbox: oliversforestproject@spenergynetworks.co.uk

Can you tell me more about Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs)?

SPEN follows the advice of independent experts, and all overhead lines comply with UK Government Policy, which is based upon adoption of the 1998 guidelines published by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).  This policy was reaffirmed in a Written Ministerial Statement in October 2009.

The guidelines state that the levels of field required to achieve compliance are as follows:

Electric Field – 9kV/m

Magnetic Field – 360 microtesla

We will be undertaking an electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) assessment as part of the EIA for this project and will confirm that these levels have been met. 

There has been a lot of research into whether electric and magnetic fields have any effect on health, and over £300m and many decades has been invested in investigating this issue around the world. Research still continues but the balance of scientific evidence to date suggests that EMFs do not cause disease.

We have dedicated EMF resources to assist the public and to provide further information, including, if appropriate, home visits and measurement of electric and magnetic fields. Copies of the leaflet “EMFs – the facts” were available at our public consultation events. We also directed people to the website www.emfs.info for further information.

Electric and Magnetic fields – The Facts is a document produced by the UK electricity industry.

Further information can be found at www.emfs.info